LayerBio
LayerBio is a pre-revenue, clinical-stage ophthalmology biotech developing proprietary bioerodible drug delivery platforms (OcuRing™ and PolyNet™) for drop-less cataract surgery and sustained-release glaucoma treatment, and is a majority-owned subsidiary of PRF Technologies (NASDAQ:PRFX).
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2013
- HeadquartersArlington, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What LayerBio does
LayerBio, Inc. is a privately held, clinical-stage biotechnology company founded in 2013 as a spin-off from the laboratory of Dr. Paula Hammond at MIT. The company develops proprietary drug delivery platforms for ophthalmology, anchored by two registered technologies: PolyNet™, a tunable network polymer-based, bio-erodible drug delivery system, and OcuRing™, a bioerodible sustained-release implant applied to the haptic of a standard intraocular lens (IOL) at the time of cataract surgery to continuously release medication postoperatively. The lead clinical asset, OcuRing™-K, is a ketorolac-loaded OcuRing implant intended to deliver sustained postoperative pain and inflammation control after cataract surgery and to enable drop-less cataract surgery by eliminating the need for patient-administered topical eye drops. LayerBio is also advancing a sustained-release travoprost formulation for glaucoma using the PolyNet platform, and previously explored wound care and tendon repair applications.
The company operates from the greater Boston area (Medford and Lexington, Massachusetts) with a small team of 1–10 employees and is led by founder and CEO Dr. Ken Mandell (MD, PhD), with co-founder Dr. Paula Hammond serving as a director. To date, LayerBio has funded its research and development primarily through approximately $8 million in non-dilutive grants, including a $3 million U.S. Department of Defense Technology/Therapeutic Development Award, a $1.2 million Phase 2 SBIR grant from the NIH National Eye Institute, NSF SBIR funding, and a Massachusetts Life Sciences Center Milestone Achievement Program grant. In August 2025, PRF Technologies Ltd. (NASDAQ:PRFX, formerly PainReform Ltd.) acquired a majority stake in LayerBio, making it a majority-owned subsidiary and positioning the company to leverage a public-company platform for future capital and commercialization.
LayerBio is pre-revenue and does not currently sell products; its business model contemplates future one-time licensing and direct product sales to hospitals, ambulatory surgery centers, and ophthalmology practices once OcuRing-K and related candidates receive regulatory approval. The company's go-to-market approach is built around scientific engagement with ophthalmologists, cataract surgeons, and key opinion leaders through major industry conferences (AAO, ASCRS, ARVO, OIS, Eyecelerator) and peer-reviewed publications, with FDA IND clearance for the OcuRing-K Phase II trial granted in April 2026 following a clean Phase I safety readout.
LayerBio firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- LayerBio
- Legal name
- LayerBio, Inc.
- Website
- https://layerbio.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2013
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- LayerBio is a pre-revenue, clinical-stage ophthalmology biotech developing proprietary bioerodible drug delivery platforms (OcuRing™ and PolyNet™) for drop-less cataract surgery and sustained-release glaucoma treatment, and is a majority-owned subsidiary of PRF Technologies (NASDAQ:PRFX).
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
LayerBio industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Ophthalmic Drug Delivery
- NAICS
- Ophthalmic Goods Manufacturing (339115), Surgical and Medical Instrument Manufacturing (339112)
- SIC
- Ophthalmic Goods (3851), Surgical & Medical Instruments & Apparatus (3841), Pharmaceutical Preparations (2834)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Ocular Drug Delivery Devices (Eye Droppers/Inserts) (HLAHAIAL)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Cataract Surgery Systems & IOLs (Phaco Systems, IOLs, Intraoperative Aberrometry, Viscoelastics) (HLAHAJAH), Ophthalmology Specialty Pharmaceuticals (HLAIACAK)
Keywords
Where LayerBio is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Arlington
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
LayerBio business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Product Sales (Future): As a clinical-stage company, LayerBio does not currently generate revenue. Future revenue is expected from commercializing its OcuRing™ product platform for cataract surgery and other ophthalmic applications following regulatory approval.
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels4 records
LayerBio product offering
Product offeringCore offering
LayerBio is a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing proprietary bioerodible sustained-release drug delivery platforms for ophthalmology. Its lead product OcuRing™-K is a drop-less ketorolac implant applied to intraocular lenses during cataract surgery to manage postoperative pain and inflammation, with a broader pipeline including sustained-release glaucoma formulations built on its PolyNet™ polymer delivery platform.
Product overview
LayerBio is a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing novel drug delivery products for ophthalmology. The company's portfolio centers on its proprietary PolyNet™ platform technology, which enables tunable, sustained-release drug delivery from bio-erodible polymers. The lead product is OcuRing™-K, a bio-erodible sustained-release ketorolac implant for post-cataract surgery pain and inflammation management. The OcuRing™ platform is designed to be applied to standard intraocular lenses (IOLs) during cataract surgery, eliminating the need for postoperative eye drops. The company is also developing sustained-release formulations for glaucoma treatment using travoprost, as well as products for wound care and tendon repair.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- OcuRing™: Bioerodible sustained-release implant applied to the haptic of an intraocular lens (IOL) for use in cataract surgery. Continuously releases medications for treatment and prevention of postoperative complications.
- PolyNet™
Products and services
- OcuRing™ Bioerodible sustained-release implant applied to the haptic of an intraocular lens (IOL) for use in cataract surgery; once implanted, it continuously releases medications for treatment and prevention of postoperative complications. Designed for use with any standard IOL and standard surgical techniques.
- OcuRing™-K Drop-less, sustained-release ocular drug delivery platform delivering ketorolac intraoperatively during cataract surgery to manage postoperative pain and inflammation, eliminating the need for patient-administered topical eye drops. IND cleared for Phase II trial in April 2026.
- PolyNet™ Proprietary network polymer-based drug delivery platform enabling tunable control of drug release from a biocompatible, bio-erodible polymer system with a variety of medication classes for glaucoma and other ophthalmic indications.
- Sustained-Release Glaucoma Formulation (Travoprost) Extended-release formulation of the glaucoma drug travoprost using PolyNet™ technology, designed to lower intraocular pressure to therapeutic levels for longer than six months.
Quantifiable outcome
- No treatment-emergent adverse events reported in Phase I clinical study
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use LayerBio
Customer profileSegments3 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
LayerBio technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
LayerBio partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights4 records
LayerBio competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Alcon: Global leader in cataract surgery devices including IOLs and surgical equipment, and a major ophthalmic pharmaceutical company. Comparable because it controls the standard IOLs that OcuRing is designed to attach to and could in-license or replicate LayerBio's drug-eluting IOL approach.
- Bausch + Lomb: Diversified ophthalmic company with a leading cataract/IOL franchise (e.g., enVista, Vitesse) and pharmaceutical eye-drop portfolio. Comparable as the incumbent whose installed IOL base LayerBio targets and whose eye-drop business a drop-less IOL would disrupt.
- AbbVie (Allergan Aesthetics / Eye Care): Global pharmaceutical company whose Allergan franchise markets leading ophthalmic pharmaceuticals and steroid eye drops used post-cataract surgery. Comparable as the incumbent whose steroid/NSAID drop franchise LayerBio's drop-less approach would directly compete with.
- Johnson & Johnson Vision: Major IOL and cataract surgery franchise (TECNIS) within a global medtech conglomerate. Comparable as a dominant IOL manufacturer whose standard lenses OcuRing attaches to and whose surgical channel LayerBio would ultimately need to access.
Emerging players
- Nicox: Ophthalmic company developing novel therapeutics for glaucoma and other eye diseases, with a sustained-release research program and established European ophthalmic commercial infrastructure. Comparable as a focused ophthalmic drug development peer.
- Opthea: Clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing novel therapies for retinal eye diseases. Comparable as a similarly-sized, focused ophthalmic clinical-stage peer targeting differentiated indications in vision care.
- Kala Bio: Clinical-stage ophthalmic company developing novel therapies for front and back of the eye using a proprietary mucus-penetrating particle delivery platform. Comparable as a small-cap ocular drug delivery peer advancing differentiated sustained-release formulations.
Direct peers
- EyePoint Pharmaceuticals: Develops sustained-release ocular drug delivery products including DURYSTA for glaucoma and YUTIQ for posterior segment inflammation. Comparable to LayerBio in targeting sustained-release ophthalmic drug delivery to eliminate topical drop dependence.
- Glaukos Corporation: Ophthalmic medical technology company developing novel drug delivery platforms for glaucoma and other eye diseases, including sustained-release and procedural pharmaceutical delivery approaches. Comparable technology and target indications to LayerBio's PolyNet glaucoma program.
- Ocular Therapeutix: Clinical and commercial-stage company developing sustained-release ocular drug delivery platforms (e.g., DEXTENZA for post-surgical ocular inflammation and pain). Directly comparable to LayerBio's OcuRing-K as a drop-less, bioerodible ocular implant targeting the same post-cataract surgery indication.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
LayerBio social profiles
Digital presenceLayerBio financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
LayerBio leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
LayerBio funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds3 records
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
LayerBio M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about LayerBio
What does LayerBio do?
LayerBio is a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing proprietary bioerodible sustained-release drug delivery platforms for ophthalmology. Its lead product OcuRing™-K is a drop-less ketorolac implant applied to intraocular lenses during cataract surgery to manage postoperative pain and inflammation, with a broader pipeline including sustained-release glaucoma formulations built on its PolyNet™ polymer delivery platform.
Is LayerBio a public or private company?
LayerBio is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was LayerBio founded?
LayerBio was founded in 2013. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is LayerBio based?
LayerBio is headquartered in Arlington, United States, in the North America region.
How does LayerBio make money?
One revenue line is on record: product Sales (Future).
Who are LayerBio's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Alcon, Bausch + Lomb, AbbVie (Allergan Aesthetics / Eye Care) and Johnson & Johnson Vision. Emerging players are Nicox, Opthea and Kala Bio. Direct peers are EyePoint Pharmaceuticals, Glaukos Corporation and Ocular Therapeutix.
Does LayerBio have an API?
No public API is recorded for LayerBio.
What industry is LayerBio in?
LayerBio's product category is Ophthalmic Drug Delivery. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HLAHAIAL, Ocular Drug Delivery Devices (Eye Droppers/Inserts), with a secondary code of HLAHAJAH, Cataract Surgery Systems & IOLs (Phaco Systems, IOLs, Intraoperative Aberrometry, Viscoelastics). Its NAICS code is 339115 and its SIC code is 3851.