Epion Therapeutics Announces Closing of Financing & New Partnership with OCULUS
October 7, 2025
Burlington, MA – Epion Therapeutics, Inc. (Epion), a late-stage biotechnology company developing a minimally-invasive, epithelium-on treatment for keratoconus, announced the closing of a $18.5M financing round led by OCULUS Optikgeräte GmbH (“OCULUS”) GmbH, along with existing investor, AXA IM Alts, acting on behalf of its clients.
Epion has also entered a strategic partnership with OCULUS as part of the financing. OCULUS is a world leader in the manufacture of ophthalmic and optometric devices including the Pentacam®, the gold standard instrument used for keratoconus detection. For over 125 years, OCULUS has been a trusted partner for eye care professionals worldwide. OCULUS operates 12 subsidiaries across Europe, Asia, and the Americas.
“We are excited to partner with OCULUS, which will apply its exceptional engineering expertise to the development and manufacturing of our EpiSmart® UVA therapeutic device,” said Jonathan H. Talamo, M.D., Board Chair & Senior Medical Advisor. “For over two decades, the OCULUS Pentacam has enabled corneal specialists like me to refine and advance the early diagnosis and treatment of keratoconus.”
“We are impressed with the Epion team’s accomplishments in developing treatment solutions for keratoconus and ectatic corneal disease. Our investment aligns with AXA IM Alts’ goal of aiming to generate measurable and positive healthcare outcomes alongside attractive long-term financial returns for our clients,” said Curt LaBelle, Head of Healthcare Private Equity for AXA IM Alts.
“Epion’s efforts to advance treatment options for keratoconus align well with our long-standing commitment to supporting eye care professionals through innovative technologies,” Christian Kirchhübel, Managing Director of OCULUS Optikgeräte GmbH, commented.
Epion is completing its Phase 3 clinical trials of its EpiSmart® Epithelium-On Cross-Linking System, advancing its prospective New Drug Application (NDA) submission to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements which are subject to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Any such forward-looking statements are based on current expectations and assumptions and therefore are not guarantees of future performance or results. Actual results, developments, or events may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements.
About Epion Therapeutics:
Epion is developing EpiSmart, a minimally-invasive treatment for keratoconus and ectatic corneal disease that could bring early intervention to millions of patients globally. Our approach is a transformative cross-linking system designed to treat keratoconus without disruption of the epithelium, allowing for a rapid return to normal activities.
For more information, contact:
Epion Therapeutics
Email: info@epiontx.com
Website: www.epiontx.com