Claris Biotherapeutics

What Claris Biotherapeutics does

Claris Biotherapeutics is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company headquartered in Jersey City, New Jersey, developing a topical ocular biologic solution for corneal diseases. The company's lead program, CSB-001 (also referred to as dHGF or oremepermin-α), is a topical biologic based on dual hepatocyte growth factor, a molecule derived from research by scientific co-founders Dr. Reza Dana and Dr. Sunil Chauhan at Harvard Medical School's Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary on mesenchymal stem cell secretion and tissue regeneration. The technology was validated through independent third-party laboratory testing and is being advanced through late-stage clinical trials, initially targeting neurotrophic keratopathy (NK), with planned expansion to limbal stem cell deficiency (LSCD) and additional ocular indications. The underlying IP is licensed from MEEI, and drug substance is sourced through a partnership with Kringle Pharma (Tokyo Stock Exchange Growth Market listed).

The company serves patients suffering from corneal diseases — particularly those with NK and LSCD, conditions with significant unmet medical need where existing therapies often fail to restore structural and functional corneal integrity. Upon regulatory approval, the end-prescribers will be ophthalmologists and cornea specialists, with products distributed through specialty pharmacy networks and hospital/clinic dispensing channels targeting prescription-based access rather than over-the-counter availability.

Claris is pre-revenue and has raised approximately $107 million cumulatively across a Form D exempt offering in October 2023 (~$44.5 million), a $57 million Series A in January 2024 led by Novo Holdings with participation from Mass General Brigham Ventures, Janus Henderson Investors, RA Capital Management, and Catalio Capital Management, and a $5.6 million round in March 2025. The leadership team combines clinical, CMC, and commercial experience drawn from Alcon, Janssen, Johnson & Johnson, Bausch + Lomb, Glaukos, and other ophthalmology-focused organizations, with a board that includes representatives from founding scientific institutions and senior biotech operators with prior billion-dollar exits.

Name

Claris Biotherapeutics

Legal name

Claris Biotherapeutics, Inc.

Website

https://clarisbio.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2023

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Claris Biotherapeutics is a pre-revenue clinical-stage biotech developing CSB-001, a topical ocular biologic based on dual hepatocyte growth factor (dHGF), to treat neurotrophic keratopathy and limbal stem cell deficiency for ophthalmologists and cornea specialists.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Ophthalmic Biopharmaceuticals

NAICS

Biological Product (except Diagnostic) Manufacturing (325414), Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology) (541714)

SIC

Biological Products, (No Disgnostic Substances) (2836), Pharmaceutical Preparations (2834)

akta.pro primary industry

Ophthalmology Specialty Pharmaceuticals (HLAIACAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Ophthalmic Regeneration (cornea/retina) (HLAAAGAK), Rare Ophthalmology Disorder Therapies (HLAIAIAK), Ophthalmology Pharmaceuticals (HLAIAAAL)

Keywords

• Ocular therapeutics
• Corneal disease treatment
• Biopharmaceutical development
• Regenerative ophthalmology
• Topical biologics

Headquarters

HQ city

Jersey City

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Others

Revenue model

1. Pharmaceutical Product Sales: Pre-revenue clinical-stage biotech company. Revenue will be generated through commercialization of prescription ophthalmic therapeutics, initially targeting neurotrophic keratopathy and corneal diseases. The company plans to expand pipeline to multiple ophthalmic diseases.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels2 records

Core offering

Claris Biotherapeutics develops CSB-001, a topical ocular biologic solution based on dual hepatocyte growth factor (dHGF) intended to restore structural and functional corneal integrity. The lead clinical program targets neurotrophic keratopathy (NK) and limbal stem cell deficiency (LSCD), with plans to expand into additional ophthalmic indications. The technology is licensed from Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary and produced using drug substance supplied by Kringle Pharma.

Product overview

Claris Biotherapeutics is a single-product biotechnology company developing CSB-001 (also referred to as dHGF or oremepermin-α), a topical ocular biologic solution. This lead product is in late-stage clinical development for treating corneal diseases, specifically neurotrophic keratopathy (NK) and Limbal Stem Cell Deficiency (LSCD). The company emerged from stealth mode in January 2024 with $57 million Series A funding to advance clinical trials and expand pipeline indications.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• CSB-001 (dHGF / oremepermin-α)

Quantifiable outcome

• Late-stage clinical trial data expected first half 2024 for CSB-001 in neurotrophic keratopathy
• +1 more outcomes

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary (MEEI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLicensed foundational intellectual property from MEEI based on research by Dr. Reza Dana and Dr. Sunil Chauhan on mesenchymal stem cells and hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) for ocular applications. The research demonstrated potential therapeutic benefits of HGF in multiple in vitro, in vivo, and ex vivo models for corneal diseases.
• Kringle PharmacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerClaris Bio accesses drug substance through an agreement with Kringle Pharma, a late clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company engaged in research, development, and commercialization of HGF protein medicines for patients with incurable diseases. Kringle Pharma is listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange Growth Market (Securities code: 4884).

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Market position

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/claris-bio

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds5 records

Investors10 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Claris Biotherapeutics