Maculaser lands funding from Zeiss, M2care for retinal therapy

Maculaser, a Finland-based medtech developer of retinal laser therapy, has closed a new round of funding co-led by Zeiss Ventures and European venture capital studio M2care. The scale of the funding round has not been disclosed.

Based on technology developed at Aalto University, Maculaser has since its 2020 founding been researching a patented, non-damaging, temperature-controlled laser technology that enables real-time temperature control of retinal tissue during treatment. 

"We are convinced that Maculaser’s temperature-controlled retinal laser technology enables earlier intervention and could significantly delay, or even prevent, the progression of retinal diseases," commented Boris Hofmann, head of Zeiss Ventures. "This may ultimately improve patient outcomes by providing an earlier, safer, and more effective option than current treatments."

The Maculaser approach is based on studies of how temperature changes can affect the progression of dry age-related macular degeneration (AMD), after the discovery that carefully controlled rises in temperature can strengthen the protective mechanisms of cells affected by the condition. Deliberately inducing such temperature rises via laser could offer a route to treating the disease in its early diagnosis phase. 

Of particular interest is the response of retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cells to localized elevated temperatures. Death or degeneration of RPE cells, which provide the neural retina with nutrients and remove waste, is strongly associated with dry AMD. If heat judiciously induces particular heat-shock proteins (HSPs) into action, then they can detect and refold some unfolded and misfolded proteins in response to the heat.

Towards clinical validation in ophthalmology clinics

In 2023 a preclinical study confirmed that 60-second treatments with 810-nanometer laser irradiation could increase HSP expression at 44.2 °C, suggesting that a clinical technique based on this approach could allow safe and personalized laser therapy for retinal diseases currently lacking effective treatments.

At that point no suitable thermal dosimetry technique to monitor the retinal temperature and ensure it remained within limits was available. But a further Maculaser trial in 2025 using in vivo pig eyes showed that a focal electroretinography-based method used alongside the laser irradiation was able to determine the retinal temperature with a precision of 0.6 °C.

Maculaser now plans to begin implementing the clinical development plan for its personalized retinal laser therapy platform. As part of the investment, M2care will support Maculaser across clinical development, regulatory strategy, financing preparation and commercial planning.

The company’s immediate priority is to advance to first-in-human studies, while continuing the regulatory and manufacturing workstreams to support clinical validation and future use in ophthalmology clinics.

"This new collaboration marks an important moment for Maculaser," commented Jani Tirronen, CEO and co-founder. "With M2care and Zeiss Ventures joining us, we gain not only financial support but also strategic partners who bring deep expertise in healthtech and ophthalmic innovation. Together we are well positioned to bring temperature-controlled retinal laser therapy to the clinic, where it can make a real difference for millions of patients."