Science Corporation implants vision-restoring chip in first Stargardt disease patient

Science Corporation CEO Max Hodak revealed that the company has successfully implanted its vision-restoring PRIMA chip into its first patient suffering from Stargardt disease, a hereditary condition that progressively destroys central vision. Hodak, formerly the president and co-founder of Neuralink, detailed during a TechCrunch Disrupt presentation how PRIMA aligns with the company’s broader goal of developing a novel brain-computer interface (BCI).

“The retina is an extension of the central nervous system,” Hodak explained on stage. “Cochlear implants, retinal prostheses, and motor prostheses are all forms of BCIs.”

Hodak presented a vision where BCIs expand into diverse medical applications, moving beyond mere computer control.

Although PRIMA is already commercially available in Europe for geographic atrophy—a severe form of age-related macular degeneration—the company believes its technology can treat multiple conditions, including Stargardt disease, which currently has no cure.

Stargardt disease impacts the outer retina, leading to the gradual death of light-sensing cells while potentially preserving the inner retina, which transmits visual signals to the brain. This results in a central blind spot that expands over time, affecting approximately 150,000 people globally.

“The brain processes vision as electrical potential, much like activity in the optic nerve,” Hodak noted. “If we can ensure the optic nerve signals the rest of the brain accurately, we can restore vision.”

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The company reports that its first Stargardt patient received the PRIMA implant in May as part of a trial at Sydney Eye Hospital in Australia. During initial rehabilitation, the patient identified a letter and subsequently read a word.

The procedure involves placing a small chip at the back of the eye where photoreceptors have degenerated. Patients then wear glasses with cameras that transmit visual data to the chip, functioning as artificial photoreceptors.

“This two-millimeter-by-two-millimeter implant sits at the back of the eye, creating a view like looking through a straw,” Hodak said. “It does not offer wide-field color vision. Instead, it provides a sharp, high-contrast black-and-white patch in the central vision, allowing patients to see a few letters at a time. Future iterations aim to increase the field of view by addressing eye curvature and reducing electrode size to match native detail levels.”

He added, “We have a clear roadmap. A next-generation device is currently in development for human trials next year, and within five years, we expect to approach native visual acuity.”

After founding Science Corporation in 2021 following his departure from Neuralink, the company aimed to advance neural engineering and BCI technology. However, establishing a sustainable business model by proving efficacy through vision restoration for the visually impaired was the immediate priority.

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Regarding its broader BCI technology, Science Corporation plans to implant sensors inside the skull, resting on top of the brain, differing from Neuralink’s approach of inserting devices directly into brain tissue.

The company suggests this device could assist with neurological conditions, such as monitoring activity in patients with brain tumors.

“Our first clinical indication, yet to be publicly announced, targets a well-known neurodegenerative disease,” Hodak stated. “We are also exploring stroke recovery. By connecting deep brain areas, we can integrate new cortical regions, a feat impossible with conventional electrodes. Ultimately, our mission is to understand how the brain generates the mind and engineer artificial brains.”

Hodak emphasized that Science Corporation anticipates widespread BCI adoption. While not targeting “healthy 40-year-olds,” the company believes individuals may require BCIs by age 60 or 70.

“Our goal is to extend not just lifespan, but health span,” Hodak concluded.