Eyestem Secures $10 Million in Funding to Advance RPE Cell Therapy Program

Eyestem Research Pvt. Ltd. has successfully closed a $10 million (USD) funding round, marking a pivotal step in its growth trajectory. The funding was led by a strategic partner and saw strong participation from the company’s existing investors.

Strategic Investment to Support Global Expansion

Speaking about the development, Jogin Desai, Founder and CEO of Eyestem, stated, “This milestone strengthens our foundation for global expansion while ensuring patient access to transformative therapies.” The infusion of capital is expected to drive Eyestem’s clinical development and international reach in the field of regenerative ophthalmology.

Endiya Partners Reaffirms Support for Indian Innovation

Endiya Partners, one of the early backers of Eyestem, underscored the company’s advancement from early-stage laboratory research to late-stage human trials. They highlighted Eyestem as a prime example of how Indian biotechnology can contribute meaningfully to solving global health challenges.

Completion of Phase 1 Trial for Eyecyte-RPE

In June 2025, Eyestem announced the completion of its Phase 1 clinical study of Eyecyte-RPE, its investigational retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cell therapy. The therapy is being developed for patients suffering from geographic atrophy (GA) secondary to dry age-related macular degeneration (dry AMD).

The results from this initial phase have been submitted to India’s Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO), the national regulatory body for pharmaceuticals and medical devices. The company is now seeking approval to begin Phase 2 of the study.

Promising Initial Results and Trial Design

The Phase 1 trial was designed to assess both the safety and efficacy of Eyecyte-RPE. Eyestem reported “promising outcomes in the initial phase.” The study involved nine patients across three sequential dose-level (DL) cohorts, receiving escalating doses of:

       • 100,000 cells

       • 200,000 cells

       • 300,000 cells

Eyecyte-RPE consists of a suspension of human induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC)-derived RPE cells, representing a cutting-edge approach to treating retinal degeneration.