INVESTORS
Raising $2.5M to nominate a PD-linked corneal repair lead
OcuRegen™ is a topical bioelectric therapy program for impaired corneal wound closure. The 12 month pre-seed plan is built to produce a lead-nomination decision using PD, ex vivo closure, tolerability, IP, and early FTO gates.
PRE-SEED DELIVERABLES
Reproducible PD signal. A predefined, decision-useful pharmacodynamic response in human-relevant corneal tissue.
Signal-linked closure. Faster closure versus vehicle or a pre-specified comparator.
Barrier & local tolerability. No epithelial-barrier, tear-film, or tolerability red flags.
Protectable lead package. Provisional IP, an early FTO readout, and a differentiated formulation/chemistry rationale.
Investment snapshot
TARGET
PERSISTENT CORNEAL EPITHELIAL DEFECTS (PCED)
Non-healing corneal wounds (2+ weeks)
~100,000/year (U.S.); below the 200,000 orphan-disease threshold.
OUTPUT
DELIVERABLES
A nominated lead or a disciplined stop, supported by PD, closure, tolerability, provisional IP, and early FTO evidence.
GOAL
TARGET PRODUCT PROFILE (TPP)
A clinically meaningful acceleration of closure versus vehicle and an active comparator (preclinical benchmark).
EXPANSION
IMPAIRED HEALING CONDITIONS
Neurotrophic keratitis and adjacent ocular-surface impaired-healing settings after the PCED signal is established.
ASK
RAISE
$2.5M SAFE (tranched: $525K at close, $1.975M at the Week-14 PD gate); ~12-month pre-seed.
TIMING
WHY NOW
A 2025 Phase 2b PCED failure (KPI-012) cleared a competitor, while an active Phase 2 (lufepirsen) keeps the wedge live and investable.
Path to exit
The capital path to a strategic exit:
A specialist-ophthalmology playbook with known outcomes.
Pre-seed $2.5M (today) → Seed $10M (IND-enabling) → Series A ~$30M (Phase 1 → 2) → Phase 2 readout (acquisition or partnership).
Comparable focused topical wedges include Tarsus Pharmaceuticals (Xdemvy); Oyster Point (Viatris acquisition, $415M + CVR, 2022).
Strategic acquirers with specialist channels and corneal portfolios: Bausch + Lomb, Novartis, AbbVie / Allergan, Santen, Glaukos.
Timeline
What this round must prove and how we plan to protect the program
This round is built to answer one question: can a topical candidate move the repair signal and improve closure, well enough to justify a seed round?
Proof points:
A reproducible, decision-useful pharmacodynamic signal in human-relevant tissue.
That signal translating into faster closure across models.
Preserved barrier function and local tolerability.
A protectable, differentiated lead package.
Protection. Composition, formulation, method-of-use, and assay know-how are covered by a staged provisional-filing and freedom-to-operate program. Regulatory: PCED has precedent for Orphan Drug and Fast Track designation; we intend to pursue both. Full IP, FTO, and methodology detail is available under NDA.
Request materials
Deck and one pager are available for diligence. For discussion purposes only.