Seattle, WA; Cambridge, MA; Tokyo, Japan – May 6, 2026
Aurion Biotech, Inc. announced that it will deliver an oral presentation at the American Society of Gene and Cell Therapy (ASGCT) 29th Annual Meeting in Boston, showcasing new developments around its lead investigational regenerative cell therapy candidate AURN001 for corneal endothelial disease. The presentation will focus on the clinical validation and commercialization potential of Aurion’s innovative Corneal Endothelial Cell Therapy (CECT) platform, which is being developed to address one of the largest unmet needs in ophthalmology and regenerative medicine. The company’s presentation comes as global interest in scalable regenerative therapies continues to accelerate, particularly in ophthalmic diseases where donor tissue shortages and complex surgical procedures remain major barriers to patient care. Aurion’s leadership emphasized that the ASGCT meeting represents an important opportunity to highlight how regenerative cell therapies can move beyond niche applications into broader commercial healthcare solutions capable of restoring vision for millions of patients worldwide.
AURN001 Advances Regenerative Therapy for Corneal Disease
Aurion’s oral presentation at ASGCT 2026 will center on AURN001, a potential first-in-class, single-administration allogeneic cell therapy designed to restore vision in patients suffering from corneal endothelial disease, including Fuchs dystrophy. The therapy combines unmodified donor-derived human corneal endothelial cells, known as neltependocel, with the rho-kinase inhibitor Y-27632, aiming to regenerate corneal clarity and visual function through a minimally invasive intracameral injection.
Unlike traditional corneal transplant procedures that depend heavily on limited donor tissue availability and prolonged recovery periods, AURN001 is designed to offer a more scalable and patient-friendly regenerative treatment approach. Corneal endothelial dysfunction affects millions globally and occurs when endothelial cells responsible for maintaining corneal clarity become damaged or depleted.
Because these cells do not naturally regenerate, patients often experience progressive corneal edema, blurred vision, and eventual blindness. Current transplant-based treatment methods face significant limitations, including severe shortages in donor corneas, technically challenging surgeries, and lengthy postoperative recovery requirements. Aurion’s regenerative platform seeks to fundamentally transform this treatment landscape by replacing damaged endothelial cells while reducing procedural complexity and improving patient recovery outcomes.
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ASGCT Presentation Highlights Commercialization and Scale Potential
Aurion Biotech stated that its ASGCT 2026 presentation will also emphasize the company’s progress toward large-scale manufacturing and commercialization of regenerative ophthalmology therapies, an area that has historically presented major challenges across the broader cell therapy industry. Chief Executive Officer and Chief Scientific Officer Arnaud Lacoste noted that while cell therapy innovation has advanced significantly in recent years, scalability and manufacturing consistency remain major industry bottlenecks limiting widespread patient access.
Aurion’s Corneal Endothelial Cell Therapy platform is specifically designed to overcome these limitations by enabling efficient production of donor-derived endothelial cells suitable for large global patient populations. The company highlighted that AURN001 is currently in Phase 3 clinical development in the United States, while its related commercial product Vyznova™ became the first approved cell therapy for corneal endothelial disease launched in Japan in 2024. The company believes these achievements validate both the scientific and commercial viability of its regenerative ophthalmology platform while positioning Aurion as a leader in next-generation vision restoration therapies.
Regenerative Ophthalmology Gains Momentum Globally
Aurion’s growing presence in regenerative medicine reflects broader momentum across the ophthalmology sector toward biologic and cell-based therapeutic solutions capable of restoring tissue function rather than simply managing disease symptoms. The company has gained substantial industry attention following recognition such as the Prix Galien Award for Best Start-Up in Biotech and inclusion on Fast Company’s list of Most Innovative Companies in 2025.
In addition, Alcon’s acquisition of majority ownership in Aurion Biotech during 2025 further strengthened the company’s strategic position within the global ophthalmology market. Experts increasingly view regenerative corneal therapies as a critical future growth area due to rising global prevalence of corneal disorders, aging populations, and persistent shortages in donor tissue supply.
Aurion’s AURN001 program could potentially redefine standard treatment protocols for corneal endothelial disease by offering a scalable regenerative solution capable of restoring functional vision while reducing dependence on traditional transplant infrastructure. The ASGCT 2026 presentation is expected to provide important visibility into the future direction of regenerative ophthalmology and the expanding commercial role of cell therapy platforms in mainstream clinical care.
Source: Aurion Biotech press release
