Cellusion develops iPS cell-derived corneal endothelial cells for the treatment of bullous keratopathy, a condition affecting over 10 million patients globally who require corneal transplants. Their technology enables the production of functional replacement cells that can be injected into the eye, bypassing the need for donor corneas and complex surgical procedures.
Funding
$35.4M raised to dateRaised to date based on public sources. This may differ from the amount the company actually raised and is based only on what is publicly available on the internet.
Founders
Product
Problem
Bullous keratopathy, affecting over 10 million people worldwide, requires corneal transplants, but the availability of donor corneas is limited. Traditional corneal transplants are complex surgeries requiring experienced surgeons and a well-established eye bank infrastructure, creating bottlenecks in treatment accessibility.
Solution
Cellusion is developing iPS cell-derived corneal endothelial cells as a regenerative medicine therapy for bullous keratopathy. Their approach involves producing functional corneal endothelial replacement cells in large quantities, which can then be delivered via a simple injection into the eye. This cell injection therapy bypasses the need for donor corneas, reduces the complexity and invasiveness of traditional corneal transplant surgery, and eliminates the reliance on eye banks for tissue sourcing. The therapy offers a readily available, off-the-shelf product, similar to standard pharmaceuticals.
Target Audience
The primary target audience includes patients with bullous keratopathy, ophthalmologists, and hospitals seeking alternatives to traditional corneal transplant procedures.
Features
- iPS cell-derived corneal endothelial cells with functionality equivalent to native cells
- Cell injection therapy enabling minimally invasive cell delivery
- Scalable manufacturing process for mass production of cells
- Eliminates the need for donor corneas and eye bank infrastructure
- Streamlined surgical procedure reducing the burden on both patients and surgeons
- Clinical trials are underway with productization targeted for 2027