Celaid Therapeutics Secures Additional Funding for CLD-001 Development

TOKYO, Oct. 4, 2026 /CourierPR/ -- Celaid Therapeutics Inc., a biotechnology startup based in Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan, has secured an additional JPY 400 million (approximately USD 2.6 million) in funding through its second close of the Series B financing round. This round of funding was joined by Shionogi & Co., Ltd. and Teikoku Ventures, Inc., bringing Celaid's total funding to date, including grants, to approximately JPY 3.42 billion (approximately USD 22.1 million).

The new investors, Shionogi & Co., Ltd. and Teikoku Ventures, Inc., were attracted by the progress of Celaid's CLD-001 program, a novel ex vivo-expanded hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) therapy product. CLD-001 is being developed for the treatment of severe pediatric non-malignant diseases, such as primary immunodeficiency, inherited metabolic disorders, aplastic anemia, and sickle cell disease. The therapy aims to overcome the challenges associated with allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, including donor shortages and post-transplant complications.

Celaid has already achieved several key milestones in the development of CLD-001. Positive nonclinical data have been generated, supporting the efficacy and safety profile of the therapy in animal models. The company has established a manufacturing process for CLD-001 and completed the technology transfer to a U.S. contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO). Additionally, Celaid has successfully completed a Pre-IND meeting with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and is now advancing preparations toward an IND submission and the initiation of clinical trials in the United States.

The funds raised will be allocated primarily to manufacturing, safety assessment, clinical development, and regulatory activities in support of CLD-001's IND application and the initiation of clinical trials. Celaid aims to leverage this financing to continue advancing its proprietary hematopoietic stem cell expansion platform and explore its application to new therapeutic modalities and business opportunities in the cell and gene therapy field.

The new participation from pharmaceutical companies represents significant momentum for Celaid as it advances the U.S. development of CLD-001. The company's focus on addressing unmet needs in the treatment of severe pediatric non-malignant diseases positions it as a key player in the evolving landscape of cell and gene therapy.