Science Corporation, a brain-computer interface technology company, has announced the acquisition of intellectual property and related assets for the Prima retinal implant from French bioelectronics company Pixium Vision.

Financial terms of the deal were undisclosed.

Designed for severe vision loss due to retinal degeneration, the Prima system complements Science Corporation's Science Eye product, which targets blindness caused by retinitis pigmentosa and dry age-related macular degeneration.

Currently under development, Science Eye utilises optogenetic gene therapy alongside an implanted micro-LED display panel.

The acquisition has been approved by the Paris Commercial Court following Pixium's liquidation.

The Prima system comprises a miniaturised, wireless, subretinal implant; a pocket computer; and specialised glasses.

In a blog post, Science Corporation CEO and co-founder Max Hodak said: “The Prima retinal implant, developed by Pixium and based on research done at Stanford University, shows great promise.

“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 is currently undertaking three clinical studies: two feasibility trials in France and the US, and the PRIMAvera pivotal study in Europe.

The integration of PRIMA's technology into Science Corporation's portfolio is expected to accelerate opportunities for vision restoration.

Hodak added: “Science is now developing advanced innovative products using two very different modalities. This transaction significantly expands our IP portfolio, and while we were strongly motivated in this acquisition by the potential of the PRIMA implant, we also felt that the patients enrolled in the Pixium clinical trials could not be left hanging.”

In April 2023, Pixium Vision obtained breakthrough device designation from the US Food and Drug Administration for its Prima System.