Neuralink rival Science raises $230 million for vision implant

Neuralink rival Science raises $230 million for vision implant

Science Corporation, a brain-computer interface developer founded by former Neuralink executive Max Hodak, has secured significant funding to advance its PRIMA retinal implant, a device designed to restore vision for patients with geographic atrophy, an advanced form of age-related macular degeneration. The company's recent clinical trial, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, demonstrated that 27 of 32 participants regained the ability to read after receiving the implant, with average visual acuity improving by five lines on a standard eye chart. The device, which uses a wireless chip implanted in the retina and a pair of glasses with a camera, bypasses damaged photoreceptors by converting visual data into electrical signals.

Science acquired the PRIMA technology in 2025 for €4 million ($4.7 million) from Pixium Vision, a French startup that faced insolvency. This acquisition accelerated Science's development timeline, allowing it to pursue regulatory approvals in Europe and engage in discussions with U.S. regulators. The company has raised approximately $290 million since its 2021 founding, according to Pitchbook data, with plans to refine the implant's resolution and integrate sleeker wearable designs.

Competitors in the vision-restoration space include Elon Musk's Neuralink, which recently received FDA breakthrough designation for its Blindsight project, and Precision Neuroscience, which closed a $93 million funding round in late 2025. Science's focus on photovoltaic retinal implants, which operate wirelessly without external power sources, differentiates it in a crowded market. While the PRIMA system currently provides black-and-white vision, the company aims to introduce grayscale and higher-resolution capabilities in future iterations.

The global market for vision-loss treatments is expanding, driven by an aging population and increasing prevalence of degenerative eye diseases. Science's ability to commercialize PRIMA could position it as a key player in the $10 billion ophthalmic devices sector, though challenges remain in scaling production and addressing post-implantation side effects, such as ocular hypertension, reported in 19 of 38 trial participants.