India’s biotechnology sector has been quietly making global strides, and a Bengaluru-based startup is now drawing attention for a potentially transformative innovation in eye care.
Pandorum Technologies, a deep-tech biotechnology company incubated at C-CAMP, is developing a product known as “Liquid Cornea”, a regenerative therapy designed to repair damaged corneas.
The development has recently gained momentum after the company reportedly raised $18 million in funding to advance the technology toward the next stages of clinical development.
If successful, the treatment could offer a new solution for millions of people suffering from corneal damage and vision loss. Corneal disease remains one of the leading causes of blindness worldwide.
In many cases, patients rely on corneal transplants, which require donor tissue. However, the availability of donor corneas is limited, especially in developing countries.
This gap between demand and supply has long been a challenge for doctors and patients alike. Scientists and biotech companies have therefore been exploring regenerative medicine as a potential solution.
The idea is to create biological materials that can repair or regenerate damaged tissues rather than replace them entirely. Pandorum Technologies’ Liquid Cornea is one such attempt to harness this approach.
WHAT IS LIQUID CORNEA?
Liquid Cornea is being developed as a regenerative biomaterial that can be applied to damaged corneal tissue.
The concept is based on using advanced biomaterials that mimic the natural structure of the human cornea. Instead of requiring a full transplant from a donor, the therapy aims to repair or regenerate the damaged corneal layer, potentially restoring clarity and vision.
The treatment may be applied in a minimally invasive procedure, making it less complex compared to traditional transplant surgeries. Researchers believe that such innovations could make eye treatment more accessible and reduce dependence on donor tissue.
WHY CORNEAL DAMAGE IS A MAJOR HEALTH ISSUE
The cornea is the transparent outer layer of the eye that helps focus light onto the retina. When it becomes damaged due to injury, infection, or disease, it can lead to blurred vision or even blindness. Conditions that affect the cornea include:
- Corneal infections
- Injuries or trauma
- Degenerative corneal diseases
- Complications after eye surgery
For severe cases, doctors often recommend corneal transplantation, but the procedure depends on the availability of suitable donor tissue.
According to global health estimates, millions of people suffer from corneal blindness, yet only a fraction receive transplants due to donor shortages. This is where regenerative solutions like Liquid Cornea could potentially make a significant difference.
A GROWING BIOTECH STARTUP
Pandorum Technologies has emerged as one of India’s promising biotechnology startups in the field of tissue engineering and regenerative medicine.
The company focuses on developing lab-grown tissues and regenerative therapies that can repair damaged organs or tissues. The startup’s work has attracted attention from investors as well as researchers in the global biotech ecosystem.
The recent $18 million funding round is expected to support further research, testing, and regulatory processes required to bring the product closer to clinical use. Being incubated at C-CAMP (Centre for Cellular and Molecular Platforms) in Bengaluru has also provided the startup with scientific infrastructure and research support.
WHAT EXPERTS ARE WATCHING NEXT
While the concept of Liquid Cornea is promising, experts say that several steps remain before such technologies become widely available to patients.
These include extensive clinical trials, safety evaluations, and regulatory approvals.
If these stages are successful, the therapy could mark an important shift in how corneal diseases are treated in the future. Doctors and researchers are closely watching how the technology evolves, especially because regenerative medicine is increasingly becoming a key area of medical innovation.
THE POTENTIAL IMPACT
If Liquid Cornea proves effective, it could offer several benefits:
- Reduced reliance on donor corneas
- Less invasive treatment options
- Faster recovery for patients
- Greater accessibility to eye care treatments
For countries like India, where the demand for corneal transplants is high and donor availability remains limited, such breakthroughs could have a significant impact on public health.
For now, the technology remains under development, but the progress of Pandorum Technologies highlights how Indian biotech startups are increasingly contributing to global medical innovation.
More details about the product and its development are expected to emerge as the company moves toward the next phase of research and testing.
