KELI Therapeutics Awarded €2.5 Million Grant by European Innovation Council to Launch Clinical Trial in Acute Kidney Injury

1st May 2025, Kaunas, Lithuania

KELI Therapeutics, a biotech company developing regenerative cell therapies, has been awarded a €2.5 million grant funding by the European Innovation Council (EIC) as part of the highly competitive EIC Accelerator program. The company has also received the prestigious Seal of Excellence, recognizing its project as a top-ranked innovation with the potential for global impact.

The funding will support the launch of KELI’s first clinical trial, a multi-site study across several European Union countries. The trial will enroll patients and evaluate KELI’s placental mesenchymal stromal cell therapy in AKI patients following cardiac surgery—an urgent and underserved area with no approved treatment.

The trial marks a key milestone in the company’s mission to deliver next-generation regenerative therapies that are safe, effective, and scalable.

“We are honored to receive the EIC’s support and Seal of Excellence,” said Justinas Maciulaitis(MD, PhD), Founder and CEO of KELI Therapeutics. “This recognition validates the strength of our science and the urgency of the problem we are solving. We are excited to take this next step toward bringing real therapeutic options to patients who need them most.”

About the Program

The EIC Accelerator supports Europe’s most promising deep-tech startups and scaleups with a combination of non-dilutive grant funding and potential equity investment. Less than 5% of applicants receive funding, and only the most competitive projects are awarded the Seal of Excellence.

About the Clinical Trial

The upcoming Phase 1b/2 trial will evaluate KELI’s lead regenerative cell therapy candidate in patients at multiple clinical centers across the EU. The product is based on proprietary placental-derived mesenchymal stromal cells and targets a mechanism of action relevant to systemic inflammation and immune dysregulation. Results from this trial will support future marketing authorization pathways in both Europe and the U.S. The trial builds on KELI’s broader pipeline of cell therapies for inflammation.

About KELI Therapeutics

KELI is a European clinical-stage biotech company based in Kaunas, Lithuania, at the intersection of science, clinical translation, and global health. KELI is focused on treating high-burden inflammatory conditions with cell/gene and exosome-based therapeutics. Pipeline includes mesenchymal stromal cells for systemic inflammation, chondrocyte-based products for cartilage repair, and exosome formulations for wellness and skincare markets.KELI operates under a licensed tissue establishment and GMP-ready manufacturing facility. Scaling toward global commercialization, with strategic plans across Europe, the Gulf, Asia, and North America.

For further information, please contact Dr. Justinas Maciulaitis at +370 690 22777 or Info@keli.eu. You may also visit our website – www.keli.eu