Medtech company Xeltis, a developer of implants designed to enable the natural creation of living and long-lasting vessels, announced on Tuesday that it has successfully passed the evaluation phase of the 2025 European Innovation Council (EIC) STEP Scale-Up call and is positioned to secure a EUR10m equity investment, subject to final decisions by the European Commission and the EIC Fund Investment Committee.

The STEP programme targets high-growth companies in biotech, clean tech, deep tech and digital sectors, offering equity investments of between EUR10m and EUR30m to support rounds of up to EUR150m. Xeltis was one of only seven companies selected and the sole life sciences firm in the cohort.

Selection criteria included innovation, execution strength and market impact. As part of the process, Xeltis will receive the STEP Seal, enabling access to additional funding and EIC Business Acceleration Services.

The funding will support clinical development and commercialisation of aXess, Xeltis' regenerative vascular access conduit for dialysis patients. The device enables the formation of living blood vessels and aims to address complications common in current treatments.

Xeltis' technology is based on supramolecular chemistry and is designed to provide a PFAS-free alternative in vascular surgery. Pivotal trials for aXess have completed enrolment in the European Union, with US trials ongoing.