HemostOD secures CHF 2 million to advance donor-free platelet development

Lausanne-based biotech company HemostOD has been awarded a CHF 2 million grant from Innosuisse, Switzerland’s innovation agency, to support the preclinical development of its donor-free, off-the-shelf human blood platelets. The non-dilutive funding will contribute to advancing key development milestones toward clinical translation.

HemostOD is pioneering the ex vivo manufacturing of universal human blood platelets using immortalized hematopoietic stem cells and a proprietary bioreactor platform. The company’s technology aims to address recurring global platelet shortages that affect millions of patients each year, particularly in oncology, trauma care, and surgery. By eliminating reliance on blood donors, the platform is designed to improve supply reliability, safety, and cost efficiency.

According to the company, the Innosuisse grant strengthens its financial position as it prepares for major value-inflection points, including the launch of a pilot production line to demonstrate commercial scalability and a planned pre-Investigational New Drug (pre-IND) meeting with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to align on regulatory requirements.

Supporting innovation through competitive public funding

Innosuisse start-up grants are highly competitive, with only around ten percent of applicants receiving funding. The program supports science-based projects with strong innovation potential ahead of market entry, reinforcing Switzerland’s position as a hub for biomedical innovation.

With this latest grant, HemostOD continues to progress from proof-of-concept toward industrial readiness, advancing a potential new paradigm in transfusion medicine based on universal, donor-free platelet supply.