A Filter for a Silent Killer: A New Device Takes Aim at Sepsis

SANTA ROSA, CA – June 11, 2026 – In the quiet, high-stakes environment of the world’s intensive care units, a relentless and often silent killer claims 11 million lives each year—more than all cancers combined. Sepsis, the body's catastrophic overreaction to an infection, has long been a formidable challenge for modern medicine, a complex cascade of inflammation that can lead to organ failure and death with devastating speed. Despite costing the U.S. healthcare system over $62 billion annually, no FDA-approved treatment exists to directly target the disease process itself.

Now, a clinical-stage medical device company is proposing a radical new strategy: instead of managing the symptoms, why not filter the problem directly from the blood? Eliaz Therapeutics today announced a new Regulation Crowdfunding (Reg CF) campaign to advance its pioneering device, XGal-3, into human clinical trials. The device, which has already received a coveted Breakthrough Device Designation from the FDA, is designed to physically remove a key protein implicated in the deadly inflammatory spiral of sepsis, offering a potential paradigm shift in how the condition is treated.

The Science of Subtraction

At the heart of Eliaz Therapeutics' strategy is a protein called Galectin-3. While it plays a normal role in the immune system, research has shown that in severe conditions like sepsis, its levels can skyrocket, turning it from a helpful agent into a primary driver of inflammation, immune dysregulation, and organ damage. Studies have linked elevated Galectin-3 levels directly to higher mortality rates in septic patients.

"Galectin-3 has been a validated target for years, but the challenge has been how to effectively neutralize it during an acute crisis," explained a researcher specializing in immunology not affiliated with the company. "The science is solid; elevated Gal-3 is bad news in sepsis."

The XGal-3 device proposes an elegant solution: therapeutic apheresis. The process is mechanically similar to dialysis, using equipment already common in hospitals worldwide. A patient's blood is drawn and passed through a specialized filter—in this case, a cartridge containing a proprietary antibody-based resin designed to bind to and capture Galectin-3 molecules. The "cleaned" blood is then returned to the patient. The innovation lies not in the apheresis machine itself—the company has a key collaboration with Terumo BCT, a global leader in the field, to use its established Spectra Optia® system—but in the targeted filter that makes this molecular subtraction possible.

Preclinical data published in peer-reviewed journals has shown promising results in large animal models, demonstrating improved survival rates and a reduction in key inflammatory markers. The company reports its technology can "shut down the sepsis process within hours" in these studies, with no observed adverse side effects. This strong preclinical foundation was a critical factor in the FDA granting XGal-3 its Breakthrough Device Designation in the first quarter of 2025, a program designed to expedite the development and review of technologies that address life-threatening conditions.

Crowdfunding a Breakthrough

With a clear scientific path and regulatory tailwinds, the next hurdle is financial. Developing a novel medical device through GLP safety studies and multi-phase human trials is an expensive endeavor. Eliaz Therapeutics estimates it will need an additional $30-$35 million to reach commercialization.

Rather than relying solely on traditional venture capital, the company has embraced a hybrid funding model that includes public investment through Regulation Crowdfunding. Having already raised over $8 million from more than 1,700 investors, including $1.9 million in non-dilutive grants from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), this new campaign invites the public to own a stake in the mission.

This approach reflects a broader trend in biotech and deep tech, where retail investors are gaining access to early-stage, high-risk, high-reward opportunities previously reserved for institutional players. Financial filings show the company is pre-revenue and operating at a significant monthly burn rate, a typical profile for a clinical-stage biotech firm. The Reg CF offering makes it clear that this is a long-term play, with profitability not expected until after a potential market launch in late 2030. For a small investment, individuals can back a technology that could one day become a standard of care.

A Personal Mission

For Dr. Isaac Eliaz, the Founder and CEO of Eliaz Therapeutics, the fight against immune dysregulation is deeply personal. The mission to develop XGal-3 is the culmination of a career-long pursuit that began with a family tragedy.

"Thirty years ago, I lost my father to immune dysregulation," Dr. Eliaz stated in the company's announcement. "I have dedicated my career to understanding the role of Galectin-3. XGal-3 represents the culmination of that work, and this raise will help us to start our first-in-human trials. We are inviting investors to be part of that moment."

This personal drive infuses the company's technical and financial strategy with a powerful sense of purpose, transforming the abstract pursuit of scientific discovery into a tangible battle against a disease that has affected millions of families.

Beyond Sepsis: A Platform for the Future

While sepsis is the immediate and most urgent target, the strategic implications of controlling Galectin-3 levels extend far beyond the ICU. The protein is a known actor in a host of other chronic and deadly conditions, including fibrotic diseases like liver and lung fibrosis, chronic kidney disease, heart failure, and certain cancers.

If XGal-3 proves safe and effective, the underlying platform technology—a device-based method for removing a specific pathogenic protein from circulation—could open up entirely new therapeutic avenues. This positions Eliaz Therapeutics not just as a sepsis company, but as a potential platform technology company targeting a fundamental mechanism of disease.

The competitive landscape for targeting Galectin-3 is active, with several pharmaceutical companies developing drug-based inhibitors. However, Eliaz Therapeutics' device-based approach offers a distinct profile, potentially providing a rapid, acute intervention that a chronic medication cannot. As the company prepares for its first-in-human trials, the medical and investment communities will be watching closely. The journey from a personal loss to a potential global solution for sepsis represents a powerful convergence of science, strategy, and the enduring human drive to innovate.