A biotechnology startup in Bengaluru is developing a regenerative therapy designed to repair damaged corneas without relying on donor transplants. The technology, called Kuragenx, is a bioengineered “liquid cornea” created by Pandorum Technologies Pvt. Ltd. The treatment aims to stimulate the eye’s natural healing processes and may offer a potential alternative for patients with severe corneal damage.
Corneal diseases remain a major cause of visual impairment worldwide. Estimates cited by researchers indicate that around 28 million people live with corneal blindness globally. The condition can arise from infections, injuries, degenerative disorders, or chemical damage that affects the cornea, the transparent front layer of the eye responsible for focusing light.
The current standard treatment for severe corneal damage is corneal transplantation, in which surgeons replace the damaged cornea with tissue obtained from a deceased donor.
However, the availability of donor tissue is extremely limited. Global estimates indicate that only one donor cornea is available for roughly every 70 patients who require a transplant. This gap in supply leaves many patients without access to surgical treatment.
Researchers and biotechnology companies are therefore working on technologies that aim to repair or regenerate corneal tissue, reducing dependence on donor grafts.
Pandorum Technologies Pvt. Ltd., based in Bengaluru, focuses on regenerative medicine and tissue engineering. The company was founded by Dr. Tuhin Bhowmick and Arun Chandru, who set out to develop therapies that use biological signaling to restore damaged tissues.
According to information published by the National Academy of Sciences, India in Mapping the Journey of Bioentrepreneurs in India, Pandorum works on building regenerative therapies by studying how cells communicate and how biological signals can guide tissue repair.
The company’s research focuses on cell derived factors, biomaterials, and biological signaling molecules that can activate the body’s natural repair mechanisms.
Pandorum has also developed other regenerative medicine platforms aimed at tissues such as the liver and lungs, using similar biological signaling approaches.
Pandorum’s experimental therapy Kuragenx is designed as a bioengineered hydrogel biomaterial that can help regenerate damaged corneal tissue.
During the procedure, surgeons remove the damaged portion of the cornea. They then apply the liquid biomaterial to the affected area. When exposed to visible light, the material solidifies within minutes and forms a transparent structure.
The hydrogel is designed using biomaterials that mimic the natural environment of corneal tissue, allowing cells to attach, grow, and reorganize as healing progresses.
This structure acts as a biological scaffold that supports the growth of the patient’s own cells. The scaffold guides corneal cells as they repair and rebuild the damaged tissue.
According to Pandorum’s description of the technology, the scaffold gradually integrates with the surrounding tissue while supporting regeneration of the cornea.
A key component of the therapy involves exosomes, which are tiny extracellular vesicles released by cells. Exosomes contain proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids that act as biological signals.
In regenerative medicine research, scientists study exosomes for their ability to regulate inflammation and stimulate tissue regeneration.
In the case of corneal repair, these vesicles may help control inflammatory responses, promote nerve repair, and stimulate the growth of corneal cells. This signaling may support restoration of corneal thickness and transparency.
See more: Opt-Out Cornea Donation System Considered by Union Health Ministry to Meet Rising Demand
Preclinical studies have evaluated the technology in animal models of corneal injury.
According to reported findings, damaged rabbit corneas treated with the biomaterial regained clarity and structural organization within a few months. The results suggest that the scaffold may guide the natural repair processes of corneal tissue.
However, these findings are based on laboratory and animal studies. Researchers emphasize that human clinical trials are necessary to determine safety, effectiveness, and long term outcomes in patients.
Clinical testing will involve ophthalmology specialists and research institutions.
In India, Dr. Virender Singh Sangwan, a cornea specialist associated with Dr. Shroff’s Charity Eye Hospital, is involved in advancing the clinical development of the technology.
The project also involves collaboration with researchers connected to Northwestern Medicine in Chicago, reflecting international interest in regenerative approaches to corneal disease.
Clinical trials will evaluate whether the technology can safely restore corneal structure and improve vision in patients with severe corneal damage.
Pandorum Technologies recently raised 18 million US dollars in funding to support further development of its regenerative therapies.
The funding will support clinical trials, product development, and manufacturing capabilities as the company advances the technology toward potential regulatory approval.
If clinical trials demonstrate safety and effectiveness, regenerative approaches such as Kuragenx could provide an alternative to donor cornea transplantation.
For clinicians and researchers, the therapy represents a combination of biomaterials science, regenerative biology, and cell signaling research. The approach aims to restore tissue function by stimulating the body’s natural repair mechanisms rather than replacing damaged tissue with donor grafts.
For patients, such technologies could eventually expand treatment options, particularly in regions where donor corneas remain scarce.
Further research and regulatory evaluation will determine whether this experimental therapy can transition from laboratory research to routine clinical use.
References
Nature. “Bioengineered Cornea and Regenerative Ophthalmology Developments.” https://www.nature.com/articles/d43747-023-00098-w
Pandorum Technologies Pvt. Ltd. “Bioengineered Cornea.” https://pandorum.com/bioengineered-cornea/
National Academy of Sciences, India. Mapping the Journey of Bioentrepreneurs in India. https://nasi.ac.in/assets/books/Mapping-Journey-Bioentrepreneurs.pdf
(Rh/MSM)
