KaloCyte

KaloCyte, Inc. is a preclinical-stage biotechnology firm developing a synthetic, bio-inspired red blood cell substitute, ErythroMer. The company was established in 2016 by a team of researchers from Washington University in St. Louis specializing in physiology, bioengineering, and trauma care, with initial backing from the BioGenerator Fundamentals program. One of the co-founders, Allan Doctor, MD, serves as the company's Chief Scientific Officer and is also the director of the Center for Blood Oxygen Transport and Hemostasis (CBOTH) at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, where KaloCyte is an affiliate and houses its labs. This direct connection provides the company with deep expertise and resources in blood science.

The company is focused on addressing critical situations where packed red blood cells are unavailable or impractical to use, such as in pre-hospital trauma care, mass casualty events, and remote medical settings. Its core product, ErythroMer, is a nanoparticle-encapsulated human hemoglobin designed to mimic the oxygen-carrying function of natural red blood cells. A key feature is its ability to be freeze-dried (lyophilized), granting it a significantly longer shelf-life than the standard 42-day limit for stored blood. This stability simplifies logistics and storage, making it a viable lifeline for emergency and military medicine.

ErythroMer's design incorporates a synthetic polymer shell that is "immune-silent," meaning it lacks blood group antigens. This eliminates the need for blood typing and cross-matching, allowing for immediate universal administration to patients in urgent need. The small size and surface area of the nanoparticles are engineered to facilitate physiologically realistic oxygen exchange. The business model centers on the development and eventual commercialization of ErythroMer, targeting markets such as emergency medical services, military field medicine, and hospitals. KaloCyte's progress is supported by a substantial financial foundation, having secured $17 million in federal awards and $5 million from investors. The technology is protected by issued U.S. patents covering its composition, preparation method, and application as an oxygen carrier.

Keywords: artificial blood, red blood cell substitute, ErythroMer, trauma care, emergency medicine, hemostasis, oxygen therapeutics, lyophilized, preclinical biotechnology, transfusion medicine