Gallant, an animal health biotechnology company focused on developing off-the-shelf stem cell therapies for pets, announced it has closed its $18 million Series B financing. The funding round was led by Digitalis Ventures, with continued support from BOLD Capital and Hill Creek Partners, and new participation from NovaQuest Capital Management.
Gallant looks to create a new category in veterinary care with ready-to-use stem cell therapies that address the root causes of common diseases in dogs and cats. And its first product for refractory Feline Chronic Gingivostomatitis (FCGS) is expected to receive FDA conditional approval in early 2026, potentially becoming the first FDA-labeled allogeneic stem cell therapy in veterinary medicine.
NovaQuest Capital Management’s participation is notable due to its experience with Mesoblast, whose product RYONCIL became the first FDA-approved human allogeneic mesenchymal stromal cell (MSC) therapy in the U.S. in December 2024.
Gallant’s research into treatments for canine and feline osteoarthritis, feline chronic kidney disease, and feline chronic gingivostomatitis indicates that only 56% of veterinarians are satisfied with treatments for canine OA, and just 8% for FCGS. And many veterinarians acknowledge that current therapies manage symptoms rather than the underlying disease, and about half express interest in regenerative medicine for various conditions. Plus, Gallant’s therapies aim to meet this demand with science-backed, ready-to-use products developed under FDA oversight.
Gallant’s stem cell platform utilizes uterine-derived mesenchymal stem cells. And the anticipated conditional approval of the FCGS therapy may offer new treatment options for cats with this condition and help establish regulatory pathways for future stem cell therapies. This work aligns with Gallant’s mission to make stem cell therapy accessible to pets in need.
How the funding will be used: The funding will help Gallant advance its commercial rollout of the product for FCGS and advance its pipeline of therapies for conditions such as Canine and Feline Osteoarthritis (COA and FOA), Canine Atopic Dermatitis (CAD), and Feline Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD), which currently have treatments that manage symptoms rather than the underlying disease.
KEY QUOTES:
“We have been continually impressed by Gallant’s team, clarity of vision, and ability to deliver. They’re tackling some of the most persistent needs in animal health using their proprietary technology platform to bring truly differentiated solutions to veterinarians and pets in need – meaningful innovation that targets the disease, not just symptoms.”
Dr. Cindy Cole, Technical Partner at Digitalis Ventures
“Gallant has made significant strides in a short time, advancing a new class of therapies grounded in science and built for scale. 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.”
Teymour Boutros-Ghali, Managing Partner at BOLD Capital
“Regenerative medicine is entering its prime – we’ve seen it firsthand with the success of allogeneic stem cell therapies in human healthcare. 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. We’re thrilled to help bring these pioneering therapies to market.”
Brian Axe, Partner at NovaQuest
“We’re honored to have the backing of partners who share our vision in creating this new category of medicine that doesn’t just help pets feel better, but helps pets get better. 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.”
Dr. Linda Black, CEO of Gallant