Science Corporation: PRIMA Clinical Trials Show Restoration of "Form Vision"

Science Corporation, a developer in brain-computer interface (BCI) technology, has announced preliminary results from clinical trials of its PRIMA retina implant. This technology has demonstrated the ability to restore what the company is calling 'form vision' in patients suffering from geographic atrophy (GA) due to age-related macular degeneration (AMD), allowing them to perform high-acuity tasks such as reading and recognizing faces.

The PRIMA retina implant showed clinically meaningful improvements in vision for those who had lost their central visual field. Patients in the trial were able to recognize letters and read text, offering new hope for individuals with severe vision loss, according to Science Corporation.

“These results mark a milestone in the treatment of severe vision loss caused by geographic atrophy due to AMD,” Professor Frank Holz, MD, the Scientific Coordinator of the PRIMAvera study who also serves as the Chairman and Professor of the Department of Ophthalmology at the University of Bonn, Germany. "For the first time, it was possible to restore real form vision in a retina that has deteriorated due to age-related macular degeneration."

"To my knowledge, this is the first time that restoration of the ability to fluently read has ever been definitively shown in blind patients," said Max Hodak, CEO of Science Corp. He said the company plans to bring the technology to market within the next few years.

The PRIMAvera clinical study involved 38 patients with GA, who were implanted with the PRIMA system in an effort to restore their lost vision. The PRIMA system, which consists of a cableless and autonomous photovoltaic implant, was tested for both safety and efficacy in improving visual acuity.

After 6 and 12 months of monitoring, the trial revealed:

• A 23-letter (4.6-line) mean improvement in visual acuity at 12 months post-implantation, measured using logMAR scoring
• A 59-letter (11.8-line) maximum improvement for the patient with the best response
• A success rate defined as improvement of 10 letters (2 lines) or more
• The natural visual acuity of the patients, without the use of the PRIMA system, remained stable, indicating a favorable safety profile

The PRIMA system is a cutting-edge visual prosthesis. It includes a photovoltaic retinal implant placed under the retina, a special pair of glasses equipped with a camera and a projection system, and a pocket processor that enhances image clarity and magnification for the user. This seamless integration of hardware allows patients to experience restored form vision, without the need for any external cables or complex machinery.

Science Corporation is now working to secure European market approval (CE mark) for the PRIMA system, paving the way for widespread use of the technology.