Led · Equity · Apr 2024

Pantheon Vision is a pre-clinical stage medical device company developing bioengineered corneal implants intended to eliminate or reduce corneal blindness. The company’s implants aim to raise the standard of eye care globally and reduce reliance on donated corneal tissue, particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Pantheon Vision plans to engage the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the coming months to guide global product development. The company was formed with initial funding from KeraLink International and continues to focus on solutions that are sustainable and accessible in emerging markets. Management has stated the additional capital will advance development of the implants toward clinical and regulatory milestones. Pantheon Vision is developing bioengineered corneal implants intended to treat corneal blindness and lessen dependence on donated corneal tissue. The company was formed and initially funded by KeraLink International (KLI) as part of KLI’s mission to eradicate corneal blindness, with emphasis on low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Pantheon Vision will use the funding to launch development of its implants and advance affordable therapies for broad use in underserved regions. Leadership includes ophthalmic industry veteran John Sheets, Ph.D., who has led companies and R&D organizations in the field and served at the FDA. Pantheon Vision’s work is positioned within KLI’s PEN approach (Prevention, Early detection and treatment, Novel therapies) and a venture-philanthropy model to fuse market-based solutions with philanthropy. Financially, KLI provided an initial $2.5 million seed investment to enable the company’s development activities.