An Indian biotechnology company is developing a regenerative treatment designed to repair damaged corneas and potentially restore vision for people suffering from corneal blindness. The company, Pandorum Technologies, is working on a therapy often described as a “liquid cornea,” aimed at helping the eye heal itself instead of relying on donor corneal transplants.
Corneal blindness occurs when the cornea — the transparent outer layer at the front of the eye — becomes scarred or damaged due to injury, infection, burns, or certain diseases. The cornea plays a critical role in focusing light entering the eye. When it loses its transparency, vision becomes severely impaired or completely lost. The most common treatment today is a corneal transplant, where damaged tissue is replaced with a donor cornea. However, global demand for donor corneas far exceeds supply, leaving millions without access to treatment.
Pandorum Technologies, based in Bengaluru, focuses on regenerative medicine and tissue engineering. The company has been developing a therapy known as Kuragenx, which is designed to regenerate damaged corneal tissue. Instead of transplanting donor tissue, the treatment aims to stimulate healing in the patient’s own eye.
The therapy uses a biomaterial combined with biologically active components derived from stem-cell research. These components are intended to reduce inflammation, support cell repair, and encourage the regeneration of clear corneal tissue. The material can be applied in liquid form to the damaged area of the eye, where it spreads across the surface and forms a supportive structure that helps the cornea repair itself.
Preclinical studies conducted by the company have shown promising results in restoring corneal clarity and function in laboratory and animal models. The treatment is designed particularly for severe corneal damage, including conditions involving inflammation or scarring that can lead to blindness.
The therapy has received orphan drug designation from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of certain corneal diseases. This designation is granted to treatments targeting rare medical conditions and is intended to encourage the development of innovative therapies.
To support development, Pandorum Technologies has raised significant investment funding from international and Indian investors. The funding is being used to advance research, prepare manufacturing systems, and move the therapy toward human clinical trials.
If clinical trials confirm its safety and effectiveness, the liquid cornea approach could transform treatment for corneal blindness. Instead of depending on scarce donor tissue, doctors may be able to repair the cornea using regenerative medicine, potentially restoring vision through a less invasive procedure.
Although the therapy is still under development and not yet available for routine medical use, researchers say regenerative treatments like this could significantly expand access to sight-restoring care in the future, particularly in countries where donor corneas are limited.
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