Seeing the world through pig’s eyes: Chinese firm to launch artificial cornea

At a time when Chinese internet start-ups are hogging the limelight for their innovation, a little-known bio-medical company is looking to revolutionise health care.

After a decade of research, China Regenerative Medicine International (CRMI) is poised to put its flagship product into mass use: artificial corneas made from pig eyes.

“It is the world’s first bio-engineered artificial cornea that completed clinic trials and obtained a medical certificate,” said chief executive Shao Zhengkang. “It suffers minimum rejection after being transplanted, better than all the existing corneas, which are mainly made of blended polymers.”

Branded as Acornea, it received the registration certificate from China Food and Drug Administration in May, making it possible to offer a cure for some 2 million people suffering from corneal blindness in China.

Cornea is the thin film covering the lens, iris and pupil. It can suffer damages, leading to blurred vision or even blindness.

Transplant is considered the best cure for corneal opacity, the second-largest cause of blindness after cataract in developing countries, according to the World Health Organisation. But in China, the lack of donors – only 3,000 a year – means 4 million people are on an indefinite waiting list, and the list is growing by an estimated 100,000 every year.