The solution lies within TM Blood cell therapies We make Blood cells tailored for the people that need them

Allogeneic

Scaled ex vivo

On-demand

Cracking the Code of Cell Therapy 2.0

As the cell therapy commercialization partner of a 5-year Department of Defense program to manufacture on-demand blood products, Safi Biotherapeutics and its collaborators are working to ‘crack the code’ of Cell Therapy 2.0 challenges of manufacturing at appropriate scale, high consistency of product, and economically viable cost of goods by integrating world-leading expertise in blood stem cell expansion, bioprocessing optimization, manufacturing scale-up and cryostorage.

Safi Biotherapeutics About Graphic

Lead development programs for manufactured, on-demand cell therapy products include red blood cells for trauma, tailored red blood cells for specific transfusions (e.g. sickle cell disease).

Recent news featuring Safi Biotherapeutics

Safi Biotherapeutics and Functional Fluidics Initiate Collaboration to Validate Health and Quality of Manufactured RBCs JUL. 16, 2025 Safi Biotherapeutics Awarded NIH STTR grant to Improve Blood Transfusion Safety APR. 24, 2025 U.S. DoD Awards Safi Biotherapeutics $3.5 Million in Additional Non-Dilutive Funding to Optimize Cryo-Storage of mRBCs FEB. 25, 2025 Safi Biotherapeutics and ARMI | BioFabUSA Initiate Collaboration to Support Large-Scale Development of mRBCs FEB. 10, 2025 Safi Biotherapeutics Granted Rare Pediatric Disease Designation and Orphan Drug Designation from the U.S. FDA DEC. 18, 2024 Safi Biotherapeutics Secures $5M in Seed Funding to Accelerate Plans to Grow Blood for Acute and Chronic Transfusions SEP. 11, 2024 This government-backed startup is growing blood to help fight shortages SEP. 11, 2024 Safi Biotherapeutics Solidifies Leading Position in Red Blood Cell Biomanufacturing with Acquisition of EryPharm Assets JAN. 05, 2024 Point-of-Need Manufacturing Challenge Demonstrates Technologies for Cold Weather Combat Effectiveness DEC. 15, 2023 Safi Biosolutions rebranding as Safi BiotherapeuticsAUG. 4, 2022 Safi Biosolutions developing alternatives to donated blood as part of USU 4D Bio3 On-Demand Blood programMAR. 24, 2022 iBio Enters into Agreement with Safi Biosolutions to Develop Growth Factors and Cytokines Using the FastPharming® SystemOCT. 2, 2020 nScrypt’s Research Arm Teams Up to Make Human BloodAPR. 7, 2020 Blood Shortage on the Battlefield? Just Make It On-siteFEB. 26, 2020 4D Bio3 Improves Battlefield CareFEB. 27, 2020

Team

The co-founders and leadership team at Safi Biotherapeutics bring experience in ex vivo human blood cell development, biologic and pharmaceutical manufacturing, pre-clinical and clinical development, and regulatory submissions.

Doug McConnell MBA
Doug McConnell MBACEO & Co-Founder
Prior to helping launch Safi Biotherapeutics in Q4 2019, Doug held strategic and operational leadership roles at Vertex Pharmaceuticals and Radius Health, spanning R&D, Quality, Regulatory and new product planning, supporting submission and launch of initial Vertex products INCIVEK, KALYDECO and ORKAMBI, and Radius Health’s TYLMOS. While at Vertex he also formed and led a virtual drug development unit for advancing pre-clinical stage candidates with external partners in emerging markets. Earlier in his career, Doug led strategic consulting initiatives for major Pharmaceutical and Biotech companies.
Jon Mogford PhD
Jon Mogford PhDChairman & Co-Founder
Dr. Mogford is the Vice Chancellor Research for Texas A&M System’s 11 Universities and 8 State of Texas agencies. Previously, as the DARPA/DSO Deputy Director, he spearheaded expansion of the formal working relationship between DARPA and the FDA, and was recipient of the Secretary of Defense Medal for Outstanding Public Service. As a DARPA Program manager Jon led the 2008-12 DARPA Blood Pharming program.
Michael Mansour MD, PhD
Michael Mansour MD, PhDCo-Founder
Dr. Mansour is an Assistant Professor Harvard Medical School and Infectious Diseases physician at Massachusetts General Hospital, with expertise in molecular mechanisms for host immune and neutrophil responses to life-threatening fungal and bacterial pathogens. Michael started his research career in the biotech sector, prior to completing his MGH residency and combined infectious disease training program at Harvard Medical School.
Kyle Meetze MBA
Kyle Meetze MBACOO
Kyle brings over 20 years of strategic and operational leadership across an array of biomedical companies, universities, and healthcare institutions. He has led and participated in dozens of licensing, fundraising, and partnering deals. Most recently, as CBO of EdenRoc Sciences, Kyle led strategic planning, budgeting and oversight of operations, finance, contracting, HR, facilities & IT for 8 start-ups.
Rob Thomas PhD
Rob Thomas PhDScientific Lead
Dr. Thomas is the founder and Managing Director of Advanced Bioprocess Services (UK) and Professor of Cell and Gene Therapy Manufacture at Loughborough University. Rob has over 10 years of relevant expertise in cell development process optimization and cost reduction for pre-clinical and clinical stage manufacture processes.
Katie Glen PhD
Katie Glen PhDLead Biologist
Dr. Glen brings 10 years operational and scientific leadership in bioprocess research programs at Loughborough University Centre for Biological Engineering and Advanced Bioprocess Services. Katie has extensive experience in cell culture, analysis, and process development for haematopoietic progenitor expansion and differentiation, including mL to multi-litre scale up of neutrophil progenitors and cost reduction solutions for red cell lineages.