A round of financing that brought Israel's Belkin Laser $12.25 million last week has brought the Yavne-based startup closer to realizing a one-second, non-invasive laser treatment for glaucoma.
Glaucoma, or ocular hypertension, is a leading cause of blindness that affects 140 million globally. However, there are only 6,000 glaucoma specialists throughout the world.
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Belkin has developed a non-contact, painless treatment that is activated by a touchscreen. Invented by Professor Michael Belkin, the technology can be used by all ophthalmologists, making treatment accessible to many more patients.
Prior to the fundraising round completed last week, Belkin Laser raised $6.6 million, including an incubator grant from the Israel Innovation Authority and a $3 million grant from the prestigious European Horizon 2020.
Belkin Laser CEO Daria Lemann-Blumenthal said that the latest investments – which came from Rimonci Capital, Santen Ventures, Inc., BioLight Life Sciences, CR-CP Life Science Fund, and C-Mer Eye Care Holdings – "signal that the industry has trust in our technology."
Lemann-Blumenthal said that the funds would be invested in GLAUrious, the company's multi-center trial in Europe, and in new trials in Asia.
"Easy and effective glaucoma treatment is one step closer for millions of patients," the CEO said.
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