Transplantation without rejection -
a lifelong solution
We create an immunological invisibility of the donor organ instead of inducing immunological blindness in the organ recipient.
Lifelong immunosuppression burdens the recipient with an incompetent immune system, depriving the recipient of a healthy, uncompromised life
Genetic Organ Modification
Our vision is a completely new approach to solving the problem of organ rejection:
instead of inducing immunological blindness in the organ recipient, an immunological invisibility of the donor organ will be created – for a life without rejection and immunosuppression, better graft survival, better quality of life and more available organs.
The Difference in the Approach
Understanding the Invisible Tissue
Immune System’s Mechanism
to identify allogenetic cells
The immunogenicity of a transplant is determined by the gene products of the Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC), which in humans are referred to as Human Leukocyte Antigens (HLA). The mechanism by which the immune system recognizes allogeneic cells as foreign is based on the recognition of these HLA-antigens on the cell surface by cytotoxic T-cells and antibodies.
The HLA antigens are extremely polymorphic, so that thousands of variants exist which trigger organ rejection in case of a mismatched organ transplant.
But even in the case of an extremely rare complete HLA match between donor and recipient, rejection occurs regularly because short peptides from all endogenous proteins are presented in the HLA molecules, which exhibit countless disparities between genetically distinct individuals and are referred to as minor histocompatibility antigens (mHag).
The route to no immunosuppression
The concept of tissue marker deactivation is based on a genetic modification of the organs by viral transduction during ex vivo perfusion in an organ preservation system. The cells are genetically modified in such a way that the MHC genes can no longer be expressed as proteins on the cell surface.
The elimination of these target structures of immunological rejection at the donor-recipient interface leads to immunological invisibility of the modified cells to the recipient's immune system.
An immunological recognition as foreign is thus no longer possible despite a fully functional immune system of the recipient. In previous investigations with cells and tissues, rejection could be completely prevented in this way without the need for immunosuppression.
Pipeline
About Us
Allogenetics GmbH offers a completely new solution to the problem of organ rejection after transplantation. The Allogenetics approach is a unique first-in-class therapeutic as it treats the transplant instead of paralyzing the patient's immune system. This innovation offers a new dimension in organ transplantation: Invisible organs instead of lifelong immunosuppression.
Allogenetics: For a life without rejection and immunosuppression, for better graft survival and better quality of life.
Leadership Team
Prof. Constanca Figueiredo, PhD
Constanca Figueiredo is professor for Allogeneic Cell Therapy and has many years of experience in the fields of immunology, genetic engineering and stem cell biology. She is considered an outstanding expert in the area of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC) and their genetic modification for blood pharming purposes as well as in the field of genetic modification of allogeneic cells, tissues and organs to enhance their immunological compatibility and prevent their rejection.
Constanca Figueiredo has brought the concept of immunologically invisible tissues and organs to a preclinical level and clarified the genetic as well as immunological mechanisms behind the engineering of histocompatibility genes and the creation of an organ-protective environment by transgene expression.
She has pioneered the technology of ex vivo normothermic organ perfusion to create the requirements for genetic engineering of entire organs. Constanca Figueiredo has filed more than 10 patents covering the protection of allogeneic cells. Constanca Figueiredo is co-founder and CSO of Allogenetics.
Prof. Rainer Blasczyk, MD
Rainer Blasczyk is full professor and Director of the Institute of Transfusion Medicine and Transplant Engineering at Hannover Medical School.
Rainer Blasczyk has initiated the research on transplant engineering to combat organ rejection. He is a pioneer and key opinion leader in transplant engineering and highly specialized in the field of histocompatibility systems, their genetic structure and molecular function in order to identify therapeutic targets for engineering and therapeutic options to substantially improve clinical outcome of transplantation.
Rainer Blasczyk was president of the German Society for Immunogenetics (DGI), president of the German Society of Transfusion Medicine and Immunohematology (DGTI), served as a board member of the European Federation for Immunogenetics (EFI) and as transplantation specialist on its scientific advisory board.
Rainer Blasczyk is a member of the editorial board of the world’s most prestigious journals for histocompatibility systems. From 2016 to 2019, he has been an appointed member of the Advisory Board on Blood Products of the Federal Ministry of Health.
Rainer Blasczyk has filed over 40 patents including many that have been licensed to biotech companies and has successfully founded a biotech company in the field of transplant diagnostics in addition to the German Immunotherapy Foundation.
Rainer Blasczyk is co-founder, founding CEO and Chief Medical Officer of Allogenetics.
Dr. Oliver Ernst
Oliver Ernst is an experienced biotechnology executive and company builder with a strong background across nucleic-acid based therapeutics, drug delivery strategies, intellectual property strategy, and translational drug discovery.
Oliver took over the CEO role in September 2025. With more than 15 years of leadership experience, he has a proven track record in founding, financing, and scaling biotech companies. His focus is on translating bold science into investable ventures by building agile organizations, clear strategies, and trusted investor partnerships.
Before joining Allogenetics, Oliver served as CEO, COO, and CBO at NEUWAY Pharma, where he advanced nucleic-acid based and drug delivery programs through pharma collaborations while shaping strategic roadmaps and operational foundations. Earlier, he was Director of IP at Brainlab AG, leading global patent strategy, enabling licensing revenues, and supporting M&A transactions.
Alongside his executive roles, Oliver advises early-stage biotech and MedTech ventures, supporting founders and investors with IP strategy, de-risking approaches, venture building, and fundraising readiness. He is part of a broad international network of biotech leaders, investors, and academics, and is excited to advance next-generation transplant medicine by making immune-invisible organs a clinical reality.
Dr. Frank Schnieders, PhD
Frank Schnieders is an experienced biotechnology executive and serial entrepreneur with a strong background in the tech disciplines of gene therapy, cancer immunotherapy, viral vector products and molecular diagnostics.
Frank joined Allogenetics after the closing of the seed financing round and took over the role of CEO from founder Rainer Blasczyk. Frank has a proven track record in founding and financing of biotech companies. As a leader, he has a hands-on approach to driving projects to high values by building agile businesses, teams, development and regulatory strategies.
Frank started his career as biochemist at Medical School Hannover (MHH) with a doctorate in human genetics, worked as a post-doctoral at Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine in Berlin and as research group leader at the Heinrich-Pette-Institute and UKE Hamburg. He is the author of numerous scientific publications and the inventor of several patent families that have served as the basis for gene therapy developments.
Frank is an active member of several biotechnology associations and part of a large international network of leading representatives from international industry and science.
Dr. Bettina Rohde
Bettina Rohde is a seasoned regulatory affairs expert and medical writer with more than 20 years of professional experience in clinical research, both in the biotech industry and in a clinical research organisation. With her profound knowledge and experience in cell and gene therapy, she joined Allogenetics as Head of Regulatory Affairs in September 2024.
Bettina developed a particular interest in advanced therapies early on her career. After graduating in biology from Leibniz University Hannover and completing her PhD, she began her professional career in a biotech company specialising in stem cell research and the clinical development of cardiovascular tissue engineering products. Subsequently, Bettina was Head of Regulatory Affairs at the clinical research organisation Hannover Clinical Trial Center. Prior to joining Allogenetics, Bettina worked as Associate Director Regulatory Affairs and Medical Writing at Orgenesis, a global biotech company developing personalised cell and gene therapies.
Bettina has been a member of the German Society for Drug Regulatory Affairs (DGRA) for many years.
Prof. Dr. Arjang Ruhparwar
PD Dr. Georg Matheis
Prof. Dr. Shaf Keshavjee
Biography
Prof. Dr. Jens Gottlieb
Inhalt
Scientific Advisory Board
Prof. Dr. Jens Gottlieb
Transplant Pulmonologist,
Head of Program 'Clinic of Pneumology and Infectious Diseases' Hannover Medical School, Hannover
Prof. Dr. Shaf Keshavjee
Thoracic Surgeon,
Director Division of Thoracic Surgery and Biomedical Engineering Toronto Lung Transplant Program
Department of Surgery, University of Toronto, Canada
PD Dr. Georg Matheis
Cardiac Surgeon,
Serial Entrepreneur (Novalung, Xenios, Tribio, STIMIT, VisionHealth),
Investor
Prof. Dr. Arjang Ruhparwar
Thoracic Surgeon,
Director Clinic of Cardiothoracic, Transplantation and Vascular Surgery Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
Investors Relations
Allogenetics GmbH is supported by renowned investors to advance the development of organ transplantation technology.
Please contact us for further information.
