Max Hodak, the CEO of Science Corporation, has revealed that the company has successfully implanted its vision-restoring chip, PRIMA, into its inaugural patient suffering from Stargardt disease, a hereditary condition that progressively diminishes central vision. Hodak, who previously served as the president and co-founder of Neuralink, a company specializing in brain implants, elaborated during a presentation at TechCrunch Disrupt on how the development of PRIMA aligns with the company’s broader objective of creating an innovative brain-computer interface (BCI). “The retina is part of the central nervous system,” Hodak stated. “We categorize cochlear implants, retinal prostheses, and motor prostheses as various forms of BCIs.” He articulated a vision in which BCIs evolve to encompass a diverse array of medical technology applications, extending beyond mere computer control.
While PRIMA is already commercially available in Europe for individuals who have lost their sight due to geographic atrophy, an advanced variant of age-related macular degeneration, the company is optimistic that its methodology can be adapted for various conditions, including Stargardt disease, which is currently deemed incurable. Stargardt disease affects the outer retina, leading to the gradual deterioration of the eye’s light-sensing cells while potentially preserving the inner retina, which transmits visual signals to the brain. This condition results in a central blind spot that progressively enlarges over time, impacting approximately 150,000 individuals globally.
“One of the advantages of this device approach is that when I refer to the brain as a computer, vision is essentially electrical potential, akin to the electrical activity transmitted down the optic nerve,” Hodak explained. “That’s the essence of vision for the brain, and if we can prompt the optic nerve to convey signals correctly to the rest of the brain, we can restore vision.”
According to hinews, the company’s first patient with Stargardt disease received the PRIMA implant in May as part of an ongoing trial at the Sydney Eye Hospital in Australia. During the initial rehabilitation session, the patient was able to identify a letter, and in the subsequent session, he managed to read a word. The device requires patients to undergo a one-hour procedure to implant a small chip at the back of the eye, where photoreceptors have deteriorated. Patients then wear glasses equipped with a camera that transmits visual information to the chip. The implant functions similarly to artificial photoreceptors.
“The device that this patient has is a two-millimeter by two-millimeter implant positioned at the back of the eye, providing a view akin to looking through a straw,” Hodak remarked. “It does not offer a broad field of view or color vision. Instead, it creates a patch in their central vision that is black and white, yet sharp and high-contrast, allowing them to see a few letters at a time. The next step is to expand the field of view. To achieve a larger implant, we must address the curvature of the eye and miniaturize the electrodes to approach native levels of detail.”
He added, “I believe we have a clear path forward. There is a ‘next generation’ in development that will be tested in humans within the next year, and over the next five years, I anticipate we will come close to achieving native acuity.” Since founding Science Corporation in 2021 after departing from Neuralink, the company has outlined its ambitions to advance neural engineering and brain-computer interface technology. However, its immediate goal is to validate its methods and establish a sustainable business model, which is why it is focusing on restoring vision for the visually impaired.
As for Science Corporation’s brain-computer interface technology, it has previously indicated that its sensor will be implanted within the skull and positioned atop the brain, contrasting with Neuralink’s device, which is directly embedded into brain tissue. The company believes that this device could potentially assist in addressing neurological conditions, such as monitoring neurological activity in patients with brain tumors. “In the near term, our first clinical indication, which has not been publicly disclosed, pertains to a neurodegenerative disease that is widely recognized,” Hodak noted. “We are also exploring applications for stroke. For instance, if a portion of the brain has been rendered inactive due to a stroke, establishing connections in two distinct areas of the deep brain could facilitate the addition of new cortical regions, akin to introducing entirely new brain areas—something that conventional electrodes cannot achieve. However, I would emphasize that the long-term mission of the company is to comprehend how the brain generates the mind and to learn how to construct engineered brains.”
Hodak further expressed his belief that a significant number of individuals will eventually require some form of BCI. While the company is not targeting “healthy 40-year-olds,” he stated that it anticipates a growing need for BCIs among individuals by the age of 60 or 70. “Our goal is to determine how we can extend not only lifespan but also health span,” Hodak concluded.
