A New Vision for Pixium’s Retinal Implants

Pixium Vision has sold the intellectual property and related assets for its Prima Retinal Implants to Science Corporation, a brain-computer interface (BCI) specialist.  The deal comes several months after Paris-based Pixium Vision announced it was setting its sights on a new buyer.

The acquisition was approved as part of a proceeding by the Paris Commercial Court after Pixium was placed in liquidation. The terms of the deal were not announced.

The Prima system features a miniaturized, wireless, subretinal implant (originally developed at Stanford University) paired with a pocket computer and glasses. The implant won breakthrough device designation a little more than a year ago.

Science Corporation said the device has the potential to work well with the Science Eye, a combination device in development, that uses an optogenetic gene therapy targeted at the cells of the optic nerve (the retinal ganglion cells) in conjunction with an implanted flexible thin film, ultra-dense micro-LED display panel inserted directly over the retina.

The Science Eye is being developed for patients with serious blindness due to retinitis pigmentosa (RP) and dry age-related macular degeneration (AMD), two forms of serious blindness without good options for patients.

Related:Pixium Vision Ends Plan to Acquire Second Sight

“The Prima retinal implant, developed by Pixium and based on research done at Stanford University, shows great promise,” said Max Hodak, CEO and co-founder of Science Corporation. “The early clinical trial results we’ve seen are impressive. Together with the work being done at Science on the Science Eye, we now have two great opportunities to develop BCI technology for the potential restoration of vision in certain patients with severe vision loss.”

Pixium has three ongoing clinical studies: two feasibility trials, in France and in the United States, as well as the PRIMAvera pivotal study (NCT04676854) in Europe, for patients with severe vision loss due to retinal degeneration caused by the dry atrophic form of age-related macular degeneration, for which up till now there is no treatment available.

In February, Pixium said it rejected a sale plan presented by NeuroTech Vision.

“I am thrilled to see our projects at Pixium going to Science, and in the hands of the outstanding scientists and engineers who are part of their team,” Lloyd Diamond, the outgoing CEO of Pixium said. “I believe deeply in our past achievements and am grateful the Prima retinal implant will now have a home with people equally skilled and dedicated to helping patients. I know they are committed to seeing this work through and am especially thankful for the people who are part of the clinical trials.”

Related:Pixium Puts Second Sight in Rear View with Pivotal Trial