Diederik van der Reijt’s Mission to Democratize Regenerative Medicine
A Personal Journey Sparked by Loss and Hope
The transformation of Diederik van der Reijt from high-frequency trading executive to biotech visionary began with two profound personal experiences that would forever shape his understanding of healthcare’s inequities. When his close friend and colleague Ben received a devastating stage 4 melanoma diagnosis during their time running a business in Sydney, van der Reijt witnessed both the power of access and the tragedy of barriers in life-saving medicine.
“Ben discovered a clinical trial in Manchester, but it came with significant costs,” van der Reijt recalls. “My brother and I were fortunate to be in a position to cover those expenses, and the treatment saved his life. Today, Ben is thriving with his family in Sydney.” This experience taught him the critical importance of access to innovative care, but it was a second, more devastating encounter that would crystallize his mission with Celljevity.
Three years ago, his childhood friend Ruurd reached out after being diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer. Despite their best efforts to secure treatment, Ruurd passed away before receiving care. At the funeral, Ruurd’s wife delivered words that continue to drive van der Reijt’s work: “This was never just about Ruurd; it’s about the millions of people who need these therapies. Keep going for them and please do it in his memory.”
Building Excellence Through Collaboration
Van der Reijt’s approach to transformative ventures began long before his entry into biotechnology. As founder of Kokomo Capital, he built a multinational trading firm that employed 85 associates across Sydney, Hong Kong, New York, and San Francisco. What distinguished his leadership was an unwavering commitment to surrounding himself with exceptional talent.
“At the peak we employed around 85 people of which 40 PhDs so I know what it’s like to work with smart people,” van der Reijt explains. “I have always tried to surround myself with people that are a lot smarter than myself and specially add skills that I do not have, it’s good to be challenged, it’s the only way to learn.”
This philosophy of collaborative excellence would prove instrumental when he transitioned from financial markets to healthcare innovation. His first biotech venture, NKore Biotherapeutics, spun out of UCLA in 2019, focused on natural killer cell therapies for cancer treatment. The success of this venture provided both the experience and credibility that would later attract world-class scientific partners to Celljevity’s mission.
The East Meets West Vision
The founding of Celljevity represents more than a business venture; it embodies van der Reijt’s belief that breakthrough healthcare innovations emerge from bridging ancient wisdom with cutting-edge science. His collaboration with Dr. Yi Eve Sun exemplifies this philosophy perfectly. When introduced by a mutual friend, their initial conversations revealed a shared vision that would transform regenerative medicine.
“What I saw there took my breath away,” van der Reijt recalls of his first visit to Dr. Sun’s Shanghai laboratory. “The facilities were state-of-the-art, and the professionalism, passion, and drive of her team were inspiring.” Dr. Sun’s unique background, with training in China, PhD completion in the US, and postdoctoral work at Harvard, perfectly aligned with van der Reijt’s vision of global collaboration.
Their partnership extends beyond professional collaboration to genuine personal connection. “Dr. Sun can shift from ‘Sweet Home Alabama’ to a traditional Chinese folk song without missing a beat,” van der Reijt shares with a smile. “As for our duet of ‘I’ve Had the Time of My Life’, I’d say it’s absolutely unrivaled. These moments of shared joy remind me how important collaboration and connection are in building something truly meaningful.”
This East-meets-West approach has proven crucial to developing Prometheus stem cell therapy, which combines holistic healing principles with rigorous Western scientific methodology.
Challenging the Healthcare Status Quo
Van der Reijt’s entry into regenerative medicine was driven by a fundamental belief that the healthcare industry has failed patients for decades. “For over 80 years, we’ve been sold band-aid solutions and toxic therapies that fail to address the root causes of disease,” he states emphatically. “It’s time for natural and holistic therapies that strengthen the immune system and truly restore health.”
This philosophy directly challenges conventional approaches that focus on symptom management rather than healing. Celljevity’s Prometheus stem cell therapy represents a paradigm shift toward treatments that address disease at its cellular foundation. Unlike gene-editing technologies that permanently alter DNA, or pharmaceutical interventions that merely mask symptoms, Celljevity’s approach resets cells to their optimal, youthful state without genetic modification.
The breakthrough thinking extends to van der Reijt’s understanding of innovation itself. “Personally, I believe genuine breakthroughs happen when we blend timeless wisdom with cutting-edge science,” he explains. This perspective has guided Celljevity’s development of therapies that honor the body’s natural healing capacity while leveraging advanced biotechnology.
A Humanitarian Business Model
Perhaps most remarkably, van der Reijt has structured Celljevity around principles of global accessibility rather than profit maximization. Despite developing technology with potentially enormous commercial value, his primary focus remains on ensuring that transformative therapies reach those who need them most.
“Given the broad application of Dr. Sun’s treatment, we are aiming to make this treatment as accessible as possible worldwide,” van der Reijt explains. “This is too big to being restricted to a traditional commercial endeavor, inclusion is one of our core principles.”
This commitment extends to concrete business decisions, including plans to provide intellectual property at minimal or no cost in underserved regions. The company’s strategic approach includes conducting clinical trials in Kazakhstan, where costs can be reduced by 80-90% compared to the United States while maintaining rigorous scientific standards.
“Kazakhstan gives us two critical advantages: speed and cost-effectiveness,” van der Reijt notes. “In the U.S., a Phase 1 trial for conditions like Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, ALS, and osteoarthritis would cost $100 million and take well over two years. In Kazakhstan, we can conduct trials for all four indications for a fraction of that cost at just $20 million, with a timeline of only six to eight months.”
Building a Global Network
Van der Reijt’s vision for Celljevity extends far beyond a single company to encompass a global network of collaborators committed to healthcare transformation. The advisory team he has assembled reflects this ambitious scope, including figures such as Jaap Zuiderveld who leads NVIDIA’s business across the EMEA region, Neil Bush, former diplomats, and finance veterans who share his commitment to making advanced therapies accessible worldwide.
The planned clinic rollout strategy demonstrates this global thinking. Starting with flagship locations in Lugano, Dubai, and Miami, Celljevity aims to establish treatment centers that can serve as models for broader deployment. This three-phase approach begins with premium wellness markets before expanding into drug applications and ultimately mass market accessibility.
“Healthcare innovation should serve humanity, and inclusivity is one of Celljevity’s core values,” van der Reijt emphasizes. This principle guides every strategic decision, from manufacturing partnerships to regulatory pathways.
Investment as Impact
Van der Reijt’s approach to investment reflects his broader humanitarian mission. Rather than focusing solely on returns, he frames Celljevity’s funding opportunities as chances to participate in healthcare transformation. His upcoming crowdfunding initiative aims to democratize access to biotechnology investments typically reserved for institutional players.
“I want Celljevity to be accessible to everyone. Retail investors should have early access to a story this beautiful, a revolution in healthcare and longevity,” he explains. This accessibility extends to the personal level: “Celljevity isn’t just a financial opportunity; it’s an impact investment. It is a testament to a belief in a long overdue paradigm shift and of course, a personal hedge against most degenerative diseases and finally age itself.”
A Legacy of Transformation
As Celljevity advances toward broader clinical implementation, van der Reijt’s vision encompasses nothing less than a fundamental transformation of healthcare. His journey from trading floors to cellular therapy represents more than career evolution; it embodies a commitment to ensuring that breakthrough innovations serve all humanity.
“This isn’t just about advancing science; it’s about honoring those we’ve lost and fighting for those who still have a chance,” van der Reijt reflects. Through Prometheus stem cell therapy and Celljevity’s humanitarian mission, he is working to create a future where access to life-changing treatments depends not on wealth or geography, but simply on need.
By Contributing Writer, Hannah Madison
Source: https://www.healthtechzone.com/topics/healthcare/articles/2025/09/02/462708-from-trading-floors-cellular-therapy-diederik-van-der.htm?article=%2ftopics%2fhealthcare%2farticles%2f2025%2f09%2f02%2f462708-from-trading-floors-cellular-therapy-diederik-van-der.htm
