Eyestem closes $10 million (USD) funding round

(Image credit: AdobeStock/Mongkol)

Eyestem Research Pvt. Ltd., closed $10 million (USD) funding round. This funding was led by a strategic partner with notable strong participation from existing investors.¹

In reporting from India Entrepreneur, Jogin Desai, Founder and CEO of Eyestem, is quoted on this news saying, "This milestone strengthens our foundation for global expansion while ensuring patient access to transformative therapies."¹

Endiya Partners, an early supporter of Eyestem, sees progress from laboratory research to late-stage human trials underscores the potential of Indian innovation to address global health challenges.¹

In June of 2025, Eyestem has announced the completion of its phase 1 study for its investigational retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cell therapy, Eyecyte-RPE. The company has submitted the results to the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO), India's national regulatory body for cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and medical devices, for permission to start phase 2 of the study.²

The trial was designed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of Eyecyte-RPE in patients with geographic atrophy (GA) secondary to dry age-related macular degeneration (dry AMD), and according to the company, it has shown “promising outcomes in the initial phase.”²

The trial treated 9 patients in 3 sequential, ascending dose-level (DL) cohorts. The 3 DLs were Eyecyte-RPE at 100,000, 200,000, and 300,000 cells. Eyecyte-RPE is a suspension of human induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC)–derived retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells.²

The company states that planning for a US leg of the trial is underway and is targeted for the first half of 2026.²

Ophthalmology Times spoke with Jogin Desai, founder of Eyesteam while on site at the 2025 ARVO meeting, which was held in May of 2025 in Salt Lake City. Watch this interview and learn more about the current trials Eyestem is conducting.³

Reference:

1. Eyestem Research Raises USD 10 Million. India Entrepreneur. News Release. August 12, 2025. Accessed August 15, 2025. https://www.entrepreneur.com/en-in/news-and-trends/eyestem-research-raises-usd-10-million/495782

2. Harp MD. Eyestem completes phase 1 study of Eyecyte-RPE in patients with geographic atrophy. Published June 18, 2025. Accessed August 15, 2025. https://www.ophthalmologytimes.com/view/eyestem-completes-phase-1-study-of-eyecyte-rpe-in-patients-with-geographic-atrophy

3. Desai J, MD Harp, Hayes H. ARVO 2025: Dr. Jogin Desai provides Phase 2 updates from a first-in-human RPE cell suspension trial. Published May 6, 2025. Accessed August 15, 2025. https://www.ophthalmologytimes.com/view/arvo-2025-dr-jogin-desai-provides-phase-2-updates-on-a-first-in-human-rpe-cell-suspension-trial