Veterinary stem cell therapy advances toward FDA approval with $18M in funding

Gallant has raised $18 million in a Series B funding round, the animal health biotechnology company recently announced. The funding, according to Gallant, will help support the development and potential commercialization of its off-the-shelf stem cell therapies.

Gallant’s ready-to-use stem cell therapies mark the development of a “new category” in veterinary medicine, as described by the company.1 The platform uses mesenchymal stem cells derived from the uterus. These self-renewing cells have the ability to differentiate into other types of cells.2

The therapies focus on addressing the root cause of some of the most prevalent diseases in cats and dogs, with the company’s first product for refractory feline chronic gingivostomatitis (FCGS) being on track to receive FDA conditional approval in early 2026. FCGS, a painful, highly inflammatory, immune-mediated oral mucosal disease, affects up to 26% of domestic cats.3 In at least 10% of cases, the disease can become life-threatening.3

Gallant’s new therapy for FCGS may become the first FDA-labeled, allogeneic stem cell therapy for veterinary use. The product would not only provide new treatment options for feline patients facing FCGS, but would establish a regulatory pathway for future off-the-shelf stem cell therapies in pets.

“The FDA approval of the first human allogeneic stem cell therapy was a historic milestone, and we’re looking forward to delivering this breakthrough therapy for animal health,” Linda Black, DVM, PhD, CEO of Gallant, said in a news release.1

“Gallant has made significant strides in a short time, advancing a new class of therapies grounded in science and built for scale,” Teymour Boutros-Ghali, managing partner at Bold Capital—a supporter of the Series B financing round, added.1 “As it moves through FDA review toward commercialization, we’re excited to stand behind a team pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in veterinary care.”

Additional products in this new line of therapies include treatments for canine and feline osteoarthritis, canine atopic dermatitis, and feline chronic kidney disease, all which will continue to be developed with the funding. The funding round was led by Digitalis Ventures, with NovaQuest Capital Management joining as a new investor and Hill Creek Partners continuing their support.

A survey by Gallant of more than 800 veterinarians throughout the United States found that 56% of veterinarians are satisfied with current therapies for canine osteoarthritis, with most respondents agreeing that current treatment focus on managing symptoms instead of addressing the underlying disease.1,4 Only 8% of veterinarians surveyed showed satisfaction of current treatments for FCGS.1,4 According to Gallant, approximately half of participants indicated a strong interest in using regenerative medicine as a treatment for diseases.1,4

“Regenerative medicine is entering its prime—we’ve seen it firsthand with the success of allogeneic stem cell therapies in human healthcare,” Brian Axe, partner at NovaQuest, said in the release.1 “Gallant is bringing that same caliber of science to animal health with off-the-shelf therapies for pets targeting the root cause of disease where current care falls short.”

References

1. Gallant closes $18 million Series B to bring ready-to-use stem cell therapies for pets to market. News release. Gallant. June 30, 2025. Accessed July 8, 2025. https://www.gallant.com/news/gallant-closes-18-million-series-b-to-bring-ready-to-use-stem-cell-therapies-for-pets-to-market/
2. Cona LA. What are mesenchymal stem cells? DVC Stem. Accessed July 8, 2025. https://www.dvcstem.com/post/what-are-mesenchymal-stem-cells
3. Soltero-Rivera M, Shaw C, Arzi B, Lommer M, Weimer BC. Feline chronic gingivostomatitis diagnosis and treatment through transcriptomic insights. Pathogens. 2024;13(3):192. doi:10.3390/pathogens13030192.
4. Veterinarians agree: Current treatments manage symptoms; anticipate regenerative options—Gallant study.