The Business of Biofabrication

German startup Cellbricks Therapeutics, a spin-off of the Technical University of Berlin, has announced successful preclinical results for its 3D-bioprinted adipose tissue implants. In a study conducted on mice, the company reported full integration of the implants into host tissue after seven weeks, without signs of fibrosis or rejection.

Milestone in Animal Testing

According to Cellbricks, the printed fat tissue demonstrated functional integration and stimulated rapid blood vessel formation—two key hurdles in tissue engineering. The company sees this outcome as a critical breakthrough in its broader goal to develop implantable human tissues and, eventually, bioprinted organs.

“This is a significant step forward for us,” said Alexander Leutner, co-CEO of Cellbricks. “It validates our approach to using 3D bioprinting to create living, implantable structures.”

The company’s current research focus is on regenerative therapies for deep wounds, but its long-term ambition is to develop alternatives to donor organs—especially the liver.

Investment and Technical Foundation

Cellbricks, founded in 2016, has raised approximately €10 million from investors including ACT Venture Partners and B.Value, the latter of which has backed the company since 2019. Investment manager Isabelle Schiller of B.Value described the recent results as a “decisive milestone,” stating the implants not only survived but were functionally integrated—a key indicator of clinical potential.

The company’s bioprinting platform involves designing digital models of tissue, selecting the appropriate cell types, and assembling them using polymers as structural binders. Originally developed as part of founder Lutz Kloke’s doctoral research, the technology now underpins all of Cellbricks’ therapeutic programs.

Therapeutic Focus: Wound Healing and Liver Support

Cellbricks is currently pursuing two therapeutic programs. The most advanced involves the use of bioprinted autologous fat tissue to treat deep wounds. The printed grafts aim to accelerate healing and restore natural tissue architecture. The global wound care market is estimated to exceed $38 billion, presenting significant commercial opportunity if the platform proves scalable and effective.

The second program focuses on engineering implantable liver tissue designed to function without the need for immunosuppressive drugs. This is particularly relevant given the side effects and long-term risks associated with conventional transplant therapies.

Initial in-vitro studies show the bioprinted liver tissue exhibits stable metabolic activity over several weeks. The company envisions its use both as a supportive therapy for patients with chronic liver disease and, eventually, as a complete functional replacement for donor livers.

Path Toward Clinical Trials

The company plans to move from small animal models to pig studies next, with the aim of beginning human trials by 2027. To support this transition, Cellbricks recently opened a U.S. office in Boston to prepare for regulatory engagement with the FDA.

CEO Leutner confirmed that the company will seek an additional funding round in 2025. He estimates that a “double-digit million euro” investment will be needed to reach the point of submitting an Investigational New Drug (IND) application to the FDA.

Leutner, a mechanical engineer by training, joined Cellbricks in 2021 after co-founding and exiting a metrology startup. He noted that his personal experience—donating a kidney to his brother—helped steer him toward the regenerative medicine space.

About Cellbricks

Cellbricks Therapeutics is a Berlin-based regenerative medicine company developing 3D-bioprinted cell-based implants to treat major medical conditions such as chronic wounds and liver failure. Spun out of the Technical University of Berlin, the company combines proprietary bioinks, digital tissue modeling, and a custom bioprinter platform to create structured, functional tissue constructs. Cellbricks aims to provide scalable, patient-specific solutions for tissue repair and organ replacement, with operations in both Europe and the United States.

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