Science Corporation, a venture from Neuralink co-founder Max Hodak, has successfully closed a $230 million Series C funding round. This investment elevates the company's valuation to $1.5 billion and brings its total capital raised to $490 million. The funds will commercialize its retinal implant and advance a portfolio of medical technologies, positioning it at the forefront of the brain-computer interface industry.
A Breakthrough in Vision Restoration
The company's flagship product, PRIMA, is a subretinal implant smaller than a grain of rice designed to restore functional vision. It works with camera-equipped glasses for patients with advanced macular degeneration. Science Corp. acquired the foundational technology from Pixium Vision and has since significantly refined it through its own clinical development.
Clinical trials have yielded remarkable results, with data published in the New England Journal of Medicine. In a study of 38 patients, 80% demonstrated a meaningful improvement in visual acuity. This breakthrough is significant, as it is the first time the ability to read has been definitively restored in such patients.
Charting a Course to Commercialization
Science Corp. is actively pursuing regulatory approval to bring PRIMA to market, aiming to be the first BCI company to do so. A CE mark application has been submitted in the European Union, with approval anticipated by mid-2026. The company plans an initial launch in Germany while discussions with the U.S. FDA are ongoing.
Building on its success, the company is expanding the PRIMA clinical program to address other inherited retinal conditions. New trials will focus on Stargardt disease and retinitis pigmentosa, leading causes of vision loss in young adults. This expansion demonstrates the platform's potential to treat a wider range of retinal diseases and impact more patients.
Innovations Beyond the Eye
The new capital will also fuel ambitious research beyond vision restoration. A key focus is a biohybrid neural interface program, which involves growing engineered neurons on a device that integrates with the brain's surface. This project aims to create more seamless biological connections with existing neural circuits for future applications.
Science Corp. is also diversifying with a new business line called Vessel, an innovative organ preservation platform. The initiative is developing miniaturized perfusion technology to maintain organs outside the body for longer periods. This could revolutionize organ transport and accessibility, allowing for shipment on commercial flights or at-home maintenance.
Strong Investor Backing and Strategic Imperative
The oversubscribed funding round saw participation from prominent investors, including Lightspeed Venture Partners and Khosla Ventures. The U.S. government's strategic investment firm, IQT, also contributed, signaling strong confidence in the company's technology. This robust financial backing provides a clear runway for the company's ambitious commercial and research goals.
Company leadership emphasized a dual focus on pioneering science and achieving commercial viability. CEO Max Hodak highlighted the potential of engaging with the brain as an information processing system to solve medical challenges. The strategic imperative is to become the first BCI company to successfully scale its operations and achieve profitability.
With its latest funding, Science Corporation is positioned to transition from a research startup to a commercial-stage medical technology leader. The imminent launch of its PRIMA implant in Europe represents a pivotal moment for the BCI field and offers new hope for patients. The company's parallel advancements in other areas further establish it as a formidable force shaping medicine's future.