The biotechnology company applies solutions based on natural compounds with an impact on public health and agricultural production. (Autor: Mireia Ochoa)
The Bilbao-based biotechnology company Glycoscience develops products from natural compounds to address health and environmental challenges, focusing on two key areas: long-lasting natural repellents and biopesticides that minimize reliance on traditional chemicals. It has nine employees and an R&D team specializing in chemistry, microbiology, biocatalysis, molecular biology, and bioinformatics. Its founders, Esteve Guardia and Peter Sutton, combine expertise in chemistry, biocatalysis, and medicine to connect natural science with safe solutions that improve human life and protect the environment, protecting against insects that transmit diseases such as malaria and dengue fever, and offering sustainable alternatives for agriculture.
Glycoscience has made significant progress: it has obtained four international patents in biotechnology, and in 2024 the Spanish Agency for Medicines and Health Products authorized its leading insect repellent, launched in 2025 in Spain under the brand name FILVIT, with approvals already granted in Spain, Italy, France, Austria, and Germany. The founders plan to expand into North and South America, while their products are manufactured in their Bilbao laboratory using sustainable bioprocesses that mimic natural mechanisms.
The company collaborates closely with universities and research centers in Catalonia and the Basque Country integrating advanced academic knowledge into its biotechnological developments. It also works with entities within the Basque Science and Technology Network, which strengthens its connection to the Basque scientific ecosystem and facilitates access to cutting-edge research infrastructure and capabilities. These partnerships are complemented by collaborations with international centers such as the University of North Texas and Texas A&M University, which bring a global dimension to its projects and foster the exchange of methodologies and results in the field of biotechnology applied to health and sustainable agriculture.