HemostOD Secures CHF 2 Million Innosuisse Grant to Advance Universal Donor-Free Platelet Technology
Key Insights
HemostOD (search) received a CHF 2 million grant from Innosuisse (search) to support preclinical development of donor-free, off-the-shelf universal human blood platelets (search) for transfusion.
The Swiss biotech company's proprietary bioreactor technology manufactures universal platelets (search) using immortalized hematopoietic stem cells in under two hours.
The funding will support key milestones including a pilot production line launch and pre-IND meeting with the FDA to address the global platelet shortage affecting millions of patients.
Swiss biotech company HemostOD (search) has been awarded a CHF 2 million ($2.5 million) grant from Innosuisse (search), the Swiss Innovation Agency, to advance the preclinical development of its donor-free, universal human blood platelets (search) for transfusion. The funding represents a significant milestone for the Lausanne-based company as it works to address the global platelet shortage affecting millions of patients annually.
Revolutionary Platelet Manufacturing Technology
HemostOD (search) has developed a proprietary bioreactor platform that manufactures universal platelets (search) using immortalized hematopoietic stem cells in vitro. The company's technology can produce unlimited platelets on demand in under two hours, potentially transforming the current donor-dependent transfusion medicine landscape.
"Our proprietary platform has the potential to revolutionize blood supply by producing unlimited platelets (search) with improved safety and lower cost," said Faouzi Khechana, CEO of HemostOD (search). "This provides for low clinical risk and a streamlined development path with significant market opportunity."
The technology specifically targets the urgent global platelet shortage that impacts millions of cancer (search), trauma (search), and surgical patients each year, representing a $5.7 billion market opportunity according to the company.
Strategic Development Milestones
The non-dilutive funding will strengthen HemostOD (search)'s financial position as it pursues major value-inflection points toward Investigational New Drug (IND) clearance. The grant will specifically support the launch of a pilot production line to establish the commercial scalability of its platform technology and fund a pre-IND meeting with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for regulatory alignment.
"This innovative approach to platelet delivery could address a major unmet medical need and transform patient care in transfusion medicine," Khechana added, emphasizing the company's unique ability to manufacture universal, donor-free human platelets (search) on demand.
Competitive Grant Recognition
Innosuisse (search) start-up funding is highly competitive, with approximately ten percent of applicants receiving approval. The agency supports start-ups prior to market entry by providing funding for science-based projects that demonstrate significant innovation potential, aiming to strengthen the competitiveness of Swiss companies.
The grant recognizes HemostOD (search)'s potential to eliminate dependence on donors while improving safety and extending availability in transfusion medicine. The company holds strong intellectual property with 14 granted patents and is pursuing a clear regulatory path to market in both the U.S. and Europe.
Addressing Critical Medical Need
By eliminating reliance on blood donors, HemostOD (search)'s platform is designed to improve supply reliability, safety, and cost efficiency in platelet transfusions. The technology particularly addresses the needs of patients in oncology, trauma (search) care, and surgery, where platelet shortages can have critical clinical implications.
The company continues to progress from proof-of-concept toward industrial readiness, advancing what could represent a new paradigm in transfusion medicine based on universal, donor-free platelet supply.