Fibriant and the EIC Accelerator: A Terminated Fibrinogen Project

Fibrin sealants used to stop bleeding in surgery are made from fibrinogen and thrombin, proteins usually extracted from donated blood plasma. Fibriant, a biotech company at the Leiden Bioscience Park, produces human fibrinogen and thrombin in Chinese hamster ovary cells instead, and develops RecoSeel, a fully recombinant fibrin sealant, as its lead product.

In December 2021 Fibriant announced up to €16.5 million from the EIC Accelerator. CORDIS records a €2,500,000 grant towards a €4.50 million project, RECOFIB, planned from April 2022 to December 2023 and terminated on 2 February 2024. No results are published, and the news section of Fibriant's website still leads with the 2021 award. Dutch register data compiled by North Data show the company active, with 2023 accounts filed in March 2025 and a patent filing in April 2025.

Where Fibriant Stands Today

Fibriant's website describes RecoSeel as its "lead product in development" and pipeline products against MRSA infections, and says it is exploring supplying recombinant fibrinogen and thrombin to other companies. The latest news item is the December 2021 EIC award. The register shows the company still active; its 2023 accounts were filed more than a year after the year ended, and a new patent application on fibrinogen as an adjuvant for antimicrobial therapy was filed in April 2025. We found no clinical trial, product approval or funding round.

The Technology: Clotting Proteins Without Blood

According to the CORDIS fact sheet, RECOFIB's platform produces "fully intact & functional recombinant fibrinogen and active thrombin at commercially acceptable cost" without blood plasma, with greater stability, "significantly higher purity (10-100X)" and better safety than plasma-derived proteins. Planned uses were surgical haemostats, coatings for implants against antibiotic-resistant bacterial biofilms, and supply to other manufacturers.

What the EIC Project Promised, and What CORDIS Shows

RECOFIB aimed at "a unique commercially viable recombinant manufacturing platform". CORDIS lists the project as terminated on 2 February 2024, after its planned end date, and publishes no results or reports. The reason for the termination and the amount paid are not public, and no EIC Fund investment has been announced.

1. A scalable production platformUnknownNo results published.
2. RecoSeel into the clinicNot shownNo trial found.
3. EIC project completedMissedTerminated February 2024.
4. A company that continuesPartialActive in register; 2025 patent filing.

What Has Happened Since the Award

The Money

The "up to €16.5 million" Fibriant announced would, under the EIC's blended finance, combine the €2.5 million grant with equity; we found no record that the equity was invested. Register-linked data also list a €145,500 COVID-19 support subsidy in 2020. Fibriant's accounts were not accessible for this article.

Why Europe Should Care

Fibrin sealants depend on donated plasma, and a recombinant alternative would remove that dependence. Fibriant said the EIC backed this idea with up to €16.5 million. Almost five years later, the public cannot tell what came of it.

The Verdict

Fibriant has not been asked for comment for this article. It is based entirely on company statements, EU project data and Dutch register information, linked throughout.