Science Corp. Raises $230M for Blindness Implant

🔑 Enhanced Key Takeaways

• •PRIMA implant, a 2mm x 2mm x 30µm subretinal photovoltaic chip paired with special glasses using near-infrared light, restored functional central vision in over 80% of patients with geographic atrophy from AMD in clinical trials published in NEJM.[1][2][6]
• •Science Corp., founded by Max Hodak, launched a patient registry for AMD, retinitis pigmentosa, and Stargardt disease patients to prioritize access to PRIMA and future implants, with clinical partnerships at 18 locations.[4]
• •Company submitted regulatory applications for PRIMA commercial approval in the US and Europe in June 2025, following UPMC's first US implant in 2020.[2][4]

🛠️ Technical Deep Dive

• •PRIMA consists of a wireless subretinal implant (2mm × 2mm × 30µm) that functions as an array of artificial photovoltaic pixels, converting projected near-infrared light from glasses-mounted camera into electrical pulses to stimulate remaining bipolar cells in the retina.[1][2][6]
• •Special glasses include an embedded camera, infrared projector for power and data transmission, zoom-in magnification, and adjustable contrast settings; provides black-and-white vision at low resolution currently.[1][2][3]
• •Implant safely placed under atrophic macula; serious adverse events mostly resolved within 2 months post-implantation, with no significant decline in peripheral vision.[1]

🔮 Future ImplicationsAI analysis grounded in cited sources

⏳ Timeline