Gothenburg-based BioTech company VERIGRAFT has been awarded a €1.2 million Eurostars grant to lead the Precision Printed Personalised Tissue Therapies (PREPPER) project, aiming to develop next-generation 3D-printed arterial grafts.
This initiative seeks to address significant challenges in current graft technology, including limited availability of human-donated materials, poor integration, and high failure rates. The project’s success could pave the way for initial human clinical trials and future commercialisation, with potential applications extending beyond vascular grafts.
“This Eurostars grant is a major milestone for VERIGRAFT and regenerative medicine. With PREPPER, we are accelerating the future of personalized tissue therapies,” said Dr Raimund Strehl, CTO of VERIGRAFT. “The global vascular graft market is projected to exceed $4 billion by 2026, and PREPPER positions Europe at the forefront of 3D bioprinting and regenerative medicine.”
Founded in 2004 by Jan Holgersson, VERIGRAFT is a biotechnology company rooted in the Karolinska Institute, it has grown to become a forerunner in industrialised tissue engineering and advanced regenerative medicine.
The company has a focused R&D pipeline of personalised tissues, targeting areas such as cardiovascular and neuronal disease. VERIGRAFT will commercialise a series of personalised tissue-engineered grafts on a global market.
“VERIGRAFT offers a unique, breakthrough technology in the field of advanced regenerative medicine. The technology gives the opportunity to personalize tissues and organs. This will be able to bring a paradigm shift in transplantation medicine,” said Petter Björquist PhD, Chief Executive Officer.
In an ongoing trial, VERIGRAFT has successfully transplanted their personalised tissue-engineered vein, P-TEV™, into patients suffering from chronic venous insufficiency (CVI)—a condition affecting the deep venous system that leads to painful swelling and ulceration of the lower legs. Notably, one patient in Spain can now walk unaided for the first time in years and attend football matches.
Collaborating with Readily3D SA (Switzerland), RISE (Sweden), and Sahlgrenska University Hospital (Sweden), VERIGRAFT will integrate advanced 3D printing, solution-blown fibre technology, and personalised tissue engineering. The goal is to create customised vascular grafts that mimic natural arteries, offering superior durability and seamless integration compared to current synthetic alternatives.
The PREPPER project has received funding from the Eurostars-3 joint programme, with Co-funding from the European Union’s Horizon Europe research and innovation programme. Eurostars is part of the European Partnership on Innovative SMEs.
By leveraging this grant and collaborative expertise, VERIGRAFT aims to revolutionise the field of regenerative medicine, providing innovative solutions for patients requiring arterial grafts and positioning Europe as a leader in 3D bioprinting technology.
Read the orginal article: https://www.eu-startups.com/2025/02/biotech-startup-verigraft-secures-e1-2-million-to-advance-3d-printed-arterial-grafts/
