Eric Strati Joins NextCell Pharma’s Board of Advisors to Support Commercial Strategy for ProTrans

With the goal of securing a commercial partner and preparing for pivotal clinical trials, NextCell is adapting the composition of its advisory board to better reflect the company’s evolving strategic focus. In this context, Dr. Strati brings invaluable commercial experience, particularly in the field of mesenchymal stromal cell (MSC) therapies, which is at the core of ProTrans.

Dr. Strati is currently the CEO of Gift of Life Biologics and has held senior leadership positions at Takeda, Mesoblast, and Novartis. He has been directly involved in the development and commercial launch of two approved MSC-based therapies—Alofisel and Ryoncil—providing him with deep insights into the regulatory, market access, and commercialization strategies required to bring advanced therapies to patients. His addition to the advisory board significantly strengthens NextCell’s capabilities as the company moves toward its next phase of growth.

“We are incredibly proud to welcome Eric to our advisory board,” said Mathias Svahn, CEO of NextCell Pharma. “His track record in bringing cell and gene therapies to market and his strategic view on partnerships and commercialization will be instrumental as we move ProTrans closer to patients.”

The advisory board continues to be anchored by Professor Per-Ola Carlsson, principal investigator of all clinical trials involving ProTrans: ProTrans-1, ProTrans-2, ProTrans-Repeat, and ProTrans-Young. His scientific and clinical leadership remains central to the ongoing success of the program.

NextCell’s lead candidate, ProTrans, is an allogeneic MSC therapy under development for the treatment of type 1 diabetes. The product has demonstrated long-term efficacy in clinical studies after a single infusion, with clinical data showing preserved endogenous insulin production, improved BMI, and stabilized blood pressure.

In early April 2025, the first administrative age group analysis of the ProTrans-Young study—comprising 30 patients aged 12–21 years—was completed and shows a positive trend toward preserving insulin production. This encouraging result strengthens our belief in ProTrans' potential and sets the stage for the next critical milestones. The younger cohort (30 patients aged 7–11 years) is currently being enrolled, with the primary endpoint analysis of the full trial expected in the second half of 2026.

The organization anticipates the upcoming data readouts will inform pivotal clinical trial designs and enhance ongoing business development initiatives for ProTrans in type 1 diabetes.