Dr. Sven Kili MB ChB, MRCS

Dr. Sven Kili is Partner at Saisei Ventures (since January 2025), a boutique VC firm investing in cell and gene therapy companies, with a focus on the Japanese CGT ecosystem. He is Principal at Sven Kili Consulting Ltd. (since July 2018), supporting small and medium-sized CGT and regenerative medicine companies on strategy, clinical development, and commercialization. He chairs the Steering Committee for the UCL MSc in Manufacture and Commercialization of Stem Cell and Gene Therapies (since September 2019), holding a visiting chair at University College London. He is Chair of the BioIndustry Association Cell & Gene Therapy Advisory Committee (since January 2016) and Steering Committee Chairman for the Innovation Hubs for Gene Therapies (since April 2021). He is a Translational Research Grant Committee Member at the British Heart Foundation (since July 2025). He serves as Scientific Advisor to IAG, Image Analysis Group.

Dr. Kili’s primary expertise is in cell and gene therapy development, with a focus on the full development and commercialisation lifecycle for advanced therapy medicinal products (ATMPs). His therapy area expertise encompasses ex-vivo stem cell gene therapies, CAR-T and gene-modified cell therapies, cartilage repair and regeneration, joint resurfacing, bone repair, rare diseases, renal medicine, and cardiovascular medicine. He has extensive experience in regulatory strategy for ATMPs, EU license application activities (MAA CTD, RMP, PiP), EU QPPV pharmacovigilance, and market access planning (NICE, SMC, AWMSG).

His commercial and strategic expertise spans biotech company formation and management, medical affairs, clinical development (Phase II/III/IV), product registration, post-marketing support, and business development including product acquisition and due diligence. He has extensive experience in surgical disciplines (orthopedics, reconstructive surgery, urology, GI surgery, neurosurgery, vascular surgery, cardiothoracic surgery) from his NHS career, giving him an unusually strong clinical foundation for an industry CGT leader.

Dr. Kili played a pivotal role in the development, approval, and launch of MACI® (matrix-applied characterized autologous cultured chondrocytes) during his tenure at Genzyme Biosurgery (2008 to 2015), including serving as Medical Affairs lead for the SUMMIT Phase 3 prospective randomized trial of MACI versus microfracture, with two-year follow-up results published in the American Journal of Sports Medicine (2014, PMID: 24714783). At GSK (2015 to 2018) he served as VP and Head of Cell & Gene Therapy Development, overseeing the approval and launch of Strimvelis — the first ex-vivo gene therapy approved in Europe — and leading the integrated development of a portfolio of ex-vivo stem cell gene therapies from pre-clinical proof of concept to post-launch support. At Antion Biosciences SA (2020 to 2023) he served as CEO, leading development of allogeneic gene and cell-based therapies. He served as Interim CMO at Bone Therapeutics (from January 2021). He has also been involved in the development of CAR-T multiplex engineering approaches as a named author on a Frontiers in Immunology paper (2025, PMID: 40918142).

Dr. Kili is a Member of the Royal College of Surgeons of England (MRCS). He is a recognized KOL in healthcare and biotechnology with over 25 years of experience across NHS surgical practice, global pharma (GSK, Sanofi-Genzyme), and CGT biotech. He has 10 PubMed-indexed publications. He led development of Strimvelis, the first ex-vivo gene therapy approved in Europe (GSK). He holds a visiting chair at UCL and chairs multiple UK and international industry committees. He is an active member of ISCT (International Society for Cell and Gene Therapy) and ARM (Alliance for Regenerative Medicine).

Dr. Kili obtained his MB ChB from Stellenbosch University, South Africa (1990 to 1996), graduating Magna Cum Laude in Organic Biochemistry, and was team doctor for an A-League Rugby team, the Boland Pro Cycle Tour (three years), the Rugby World Cup, and international athletics. He served in the South African Defense Force as Signals and Encryption Officer (1985 to 1986). He completed Basic Surgical Training with the NHS (February 1997 to December 1999) and Trauma and Orthopedics Specialist Registrar training with the NHS (January 2000 to October 2004), developing expertise in lower limb conditions, young arthroplasty, and orthobiologics. He obtained his MRCS from the Royal College of Surgeons of England (1998 to 2000). He then joined Geistlich Biomaterials as Senior Medical Advisor (October 2004 to May 2008), Genzyme Biosurgery as Medical Director MACI and then Senior Director Global Medical Affairs for Cell Therapy and Regenerative Medicine (May 2008 to April 2015), and GSK as VP and Head of Cell and Gene Therapy Development (May 2015 to August 2018). He founded Sven Kili Consulting Ltd. in July 2018 and has served as CEO of Antion Biosciences SA (2020 to 2023) and Chief Development Officer of CCRM/OmniaBio (2024 to 2025) alongside his consulting practice.