Best Ophthalmology Companies in France
The 40 best Ophthalmology companies in France in 2026, ranked by funding and momentum. Funding, investors, founders, valuation, tech stack and live signals. Top: Nicox.
- Growth Foreseen for Ophthalmology Sector
Ranked: Best Ophthalmology companies in France
| # | Company | Disclosed funding | Last round | Employees | Founded | Founder | Tech stack | Patents & IP focus | Recent signals |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nicox Developer of nitric oxide (NO) based therapeutics for glaucoma | $271M | 45 mo ago | 28 | 1996 | Michele Garufi Co-Founder and Board Member | WordPressMySQLPHP+16 | 971 patents Ocular nitric‑oxide‑releasing therapeutics for treating eye vascular and neuro‑degenerative disorders | 1 partnership |
| 2 | Abionyx Developer of therapeutics for treating rare diseases and severe inflammatory conditions | $155M | 57 mo ago | 63 | 2005 | Cyrille Tupin CEO | JoomlaPleskPHP+11 | — | — |
| 3 | SparingVision Developer of drugs using gene therapy to treat retinitis pigmentosa | $128M | 47 mo ago | 41 | 2016 | Jose Sahel Co-Founder | WordPress Block EditorwpBakeryWordPress+24 | 37 patents Neuroprotective gene and protein therapies for retinal degenerative diseases | 1 award |
| 4 | GenSight Biologics Developer of viral vector-based gene therapies for retinal neurodegenerative diseases 55AI top 15%Product top 19%Funding top 20%Patents top 33% All 11 signals ▾AItop 15% Producttop 19% Fundingtop 20% Patentstop 33% Moattop 38% Innovationtop 43% Globaltop 47% Growthbottom 47% Marketbottom 41% Newsbottom 33% Techbottom 31% AI: Holds AI/ML patents (G06N-family CPC) Product: 3 distinct product lines · Company stage: Public rank vs industry peers · Fliar Intelligence Index 55/100 | $77M | 5 mo ago | 23 | 2011 | — | WordPressMySQLPHP+12 | 89 patents Optogenetic gene‑therapy vectors and precision light‑delivery devices for retinal treatments | — |
| 5 | Fovea Pharmaceuticals Drugs for retinal pathologies & other ocular diseases | $69M | 224 mo ago | — | 2005 | Bernard Gilly Chairman & CEO | — | 174 patents Ocular drug delivery devices and aniline‑based ophthalmic therapeutic compounds | — |
| 6 | EYE TECH CARE Developer of ultrasound device to treat glaucoma | $52M | 47 mo ago | 19 | 2008 | — | TYPO3 CMSPHPBootstrap+7 | 111 patents Contactless rotary ophthalmic surgical instruments and fluid‑coupling detection systems. | — |
| 7 | Coave Therapeutics Developer of gene therapy for ocular and neurological disease 50Funding top 33%Patents top 34%Growth top 35%Moat top 36% All 9 signals ▾Fundingtop 33% Patentstop 34% Growthtop 35% Moattop 36% Innovationtop 42% Talentbottom 49% Techbottom 44% Globalbottom 43% Marketbottom 38% Funding: Raised $44.0M across 6 rounds · 6 rounds over 12 yrs (0.5/yr) Patents: 27 patents matched (strict assignee match) · 26 filings since 2022 vs 1 in 2017-21 rank vs industry peers · Fliar Intelligence Index 50/100 | $44M | 19 mo ago | 34 | 2014 | Rodolphe Clerval Chief Executive Officer | WordPressApple iCloud MailMicrosoft 365+23 | 27 patents Engineered AAV viral vectors with lactam/squaramide modifications for CNS gene therapy | — |
| 8 | novagali pharma Novagali Pharma is an emerging ophthalmic pharmaceutical company that develops innovative products for all… | $39M | 215 mo ago | 44 | 2000 | — | — | 258 patents Ocular drug delivery formulations: emulsions, intraocular tamponades, and ophthalmic prostaglandin carriers. | — |
| 9 | Pixium Vision Provider of bionic vision restoration systems | $33M | 61 mo ago | 42 | 2011 | — | — | 204 patents Retinal projection and photosensitive implant devices with hermetic electronic packaging. | — |
| 10 | Keranova Surgical equipment for anterior chamber Ophthalmic surgery | $31M | 83 mo ago | 46 | 2015 | — | WordPressMySQLPHP+18 | 146 patents Patents concentrated in health & consumer products | — |
| 11 | Oxxius Provider of diversified laser systems | $14M | 162 mo ago | 45 | 2002 | — | WordPressMySQLPHP+15 | 62 patents Low‑noise Raman lasers and microchip resonant nonlinear laser generation technologies. | — |
| 12 | Quantel Medical Ultrasound and Laser devices for opthalmology | $14M | 35 mo ago | — | 1993 | — | — | 50 patents Ophthalmic ultrasound imaging probes and handheld intense pulsed light therapeutic devices. | 1 launch |
| 13 | Genomic Vision Nanotechnology for single DNA analysis for cancer and acute disease molecular diagnostics | $9M | 136 mo ago | 37 | 2004 | Aaron Bensimon Founder & CEO | — | 108 patents Detection of viral DNA integration and telomere profiling for disease diagnostics | — |
| 14 | AcuSurgical Provider of robotic technologies for retinal micro-surgery | $7M | 66 mo ago | 17 | 2017 | Christoph Spuhler CEO | — | 25 patents Ophthalmic surgical devices, instrument handling mechanisms, and robotic control interfaces for eye surgery | — |
| 15 | Ciliatech Developer of a implant for treating ophthalmic disorder | $7M | 40 mo ago | 2 | 2017 | Olivier Benoit Co-Founder & CEO | — | 19 patents Ophthalmic interposition implants with surface projections for ocular tissue fixation | — |
| 16 | Seabelife Developer of small-molecule drugs that simultaneously inhibit necroptosis and ferroptosis 37Talent top 28%Growth top 35%Patents top 42%Moat top 42% All 10 signals ▾Talenttop 28% Growthtop 35% Patentstop 42% Moattop 42% Innovationbottom 49% Techbottom 47% Fundingbottom 46% Newsbottom 42% Globalbottom 35% Marketbottom 24% Talent: 4 named leaders on record · 4 C-suite/founder profiles curated Growth: Fresh capital in last 24 mo rank vs industry peers · Fliar Intelligence Index 37/100 | $6M | 11 mo ago | 8 | 2019 | Marie-Therese Dimanche-Boitrel Co-Founder | WordPress Block EditorElementorWordPress+25 | 10 patents Regulated necrosis and ferroptosis inhibition therapeutics for tissue regeneration | — |
| 17 | BrainEver Developer of drug candidates to treat neurodegenerative diseases | $3M | 50 mo ago | 17 | 2015 | Bernard Gilly Co-Founder & CEO | — | 4 patents Formulation technologies for stabilized therapeutic proteins and peptides | — |
| 18 | Biophytis Developer of drugs for neuromuscular and age-related diseases 45Patents top 32%Moat top 35%Funding top 37%Innovation top 38% All 10 signals ▾Patentstop 32% Moattop 35% Fundingtop 37% Innovationtop 38% Globaltop 45% Partnerstop 45% Newstop 46% Growthbottom 47% Techbottom 43% Marketbottom 42% Patents: 175 patents matched (strict assignee match) · 62 filings since 2022 vs 105 in 2017-21 Moat: Editorial + unicorn rating 5/10 · IP moat: 175 patents rank vs industry peers · Fliar Intelligence Index 45/100 | $3M | 5 mo ago | 24 | 2006 | — | WordPressPleskApple iCloud Mail+21 | 175 patents Phytoecdysteroid-based therapeutics for muscle atrophy, SMA, obesity, viral respiratory, ocular diseases | 1 expansion |
| 19 | Laclarée Developer of an eye-wear solution for presbyopia correction | $2M | 19 mo ago | 10 | 2016 | Bruno Berge Founder & CEO | WordPressApple iCloud MailMySQL+22 | — | — |
| 20 | Axorus Developer of artificial retina implant to treat retinitis pigmentosa | $918K | 82 mo ago | 6 | 2019 | Jean-Damien Louise CEO | — | — | — |
Top 12 Ophthalmology companies in France
#1
Public · Paris, Ile de France · founded 2011 · 23 employees$76.6Mraised▾
Developer of viral vector-based gene therapies for retinal neurodegenerative diseases. The company develops innovative approaches to prevent retinal degeneration in selected pathological conditions, to restore vision in patients suffering from very low vision or blindness. Its lead product candidates include GS010, an AAV2 containing the human wild-type ND4 gene for the treatment of Leber Hereditary Optic Neuropathy associated with a mutation in the ND4 gene, and GS030 which comprises a gene encoding a photoactivatable channelrhodopsin for the treatment of retinitis pigmentosa and geographic atrophy in dry age-related macular degeneration.
- Mar 2026Post IPO$2M
- Dec 2025Post IPO$3.4M
- Nov 2025Post IPO$2.3M
- Oct 2025Post IPO$4.3M
#2
Public · Romainville, Ile de France · founded 2006 · 24 employees$2.6Mraised▾
Developer of drugs for neuromuscular and age-related diseases. The company's lead drug candidate, Sarconeos (BIO101), is an orally administered small molecule in development for the treatment of neuromuscular diseases, including sarcopenia and DMD. Other drug candidate, Macuneos (BIO201) for the treatment of retinal diseases, including dry AMD and Stargardt disease.
- Mar 2026Post IPO$1.6M
- Jun 2021Post IPO$38.2M
- Jul 2020Post IPO$6.9M
- Oct 2017Post IPO$12.3M
#3
Seed · Roscoff, Brittany · founded 2019 · 8 employees$6Mraised▾
Developer of small-molecule drugs that simultaneously inhibit necroptosis and ferroptosis. The lead candidates can treat the acute hepatic failure caused due to paracetamol poisoning and acute renal failure due to side effects of cancer treatment. Other candidates are developed to treat age-related macular degeneration, Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, and other neurodegenerative diseases. The drug candidates are of marine origin and have the ability to simultaneously block two forms of regulated cell death and therefore protect the attacked organs and restore the tissues and organs.
- Oct 2025Seed$2.3M
- Sep 2023Seed$1.3M
- Jul 2023Grant (prize money)$81.9K
- Mar 2022Seed$1.8M
#4
Series B · Paris, Ile de France · founded 2014 · 34 employees$44Mraised▾
Developer of gene therapy for ocular and neurological disease. The drug candidates include CTx-PDE6b for inherited retinal dystrophy, CTx-ABCA4 for Stargardt’s Disease, CTx-GBA1 for Parkinson’s, and neuronopathic Gaucher diseases. These drugs are based on the AAV-ligand conjugates platform for targeted delivery.
- Jan 2025Series B$33M
- Jul 2021Series B$39M
- Jul 2016Series A$4.4M
- Jul 2015Grant (prize money)$166.6K
#5
Public · Valbonne, Provence Alpes Cote d Azur · founded 1996 · 28 employees$271Mraised▾
Developer of nitric oxide (NO) based therapeutics for glaucoma. The company has developed Nitric Oxide (NO) donating compounds that are used to maintain the intraocular pressure (IOP) in the eyes to prevent glaucoma. The company's lead candidates are VYZULTA (licensed), NCX 470 (phase III), and PDE5 inhibitors (research) to treat glaucoma, NCX 4251 (phase II) to treat blepharitis/dry eyes, ZERVIATE (licensed) to treat allergic conjunctivitis, and NCX 4280 to treat morning eye congestion.
- Nov 2022Series C$10.3M
- Dec 2021Series C$17M
- Dec 2020Series C$18.2M
- Nov 2019Series C$13.8M
#6
Seed · Lyon, Auvergne Rhone Alpes · founded 2016 · 10 employees$2.2Mraised▾
Laclaree is the developer of an eye-wear solution for presbyopia correction. The platform has developed the eyeglasses that can be powered with rechargeable batteries and then this electronic hardware is placed in eyeglass frames. Its technology uses a refraction-based solution using liquids that can be inserted in the lense that helps to improve vision.
- Jan 2025Seed$3.6M
- Jan 2025Grant (prize money)$2.6M
- Jun 2020Grant (prize money)$56.2K
- Jan 2020Grant (prize money)$56.1K
#7
Series B · Paris, Ile de France · founded 2016 · 41 employees$128.1Mraised▾
Developer of drugs using gene therapy to treat retinitis pigmentosa. The company discovers and develops genetic medicine which is used to prevent the degeneration of cones cells in the retina to treat inherited retinal diseases. The company develops a single-injection dosage form for gene therapy.
- Sep 2022Series B$75.5M
- Jul 2021Grant (prize money)$59.4K
- Oct 2020Series A$52.5M
- Aug 2019Grant (prize money)$2.7M
#8
Public · Balma, Occitanie · founded 2005 · 63 employees$154.5Mraised▾
Developer of therapeutics for treating rare diseases and severe inflammatory conditions. The pipeline includes CER‑001 a recombinant apoA‑I HDL-mimetic under investigation for cardiovascular, rare genetic LCAT deficiency, severe inflammatory states, and even targeted delivery in oncology, CER-002 a peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) delta specific agonist in development for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases, and CER-209 is a oral P2Y13 receptor agonists for the treatment of atherosclerois and of non-alcoholic steato-hepatitis.
- Dec 2021Post IPO$4.8M
- Mar 2015Series C$4.1M
- Oct 2010Series C$13.9M
- Jul 2010Grant (prize money)$13.8M
#9
Series D · Lyon, Auvergne Rhone Alpes · founded 2008 · 19 employees$51.6Mraised▾
EYE TECH CARE has developed a CE and CFDA approved ultrasound device. The flagship product, EyeOP1 offers a non-invasive treatment for refractory glaucoma. The procedure is performed under local anesthesia. The device is positioned on the patient's eye and the transducer delivers ultrasound energy to reduce intraocular pressure.
- Sep 2022Series D—
- Jan 2016Series D$27.3M
- Mar 2013Series C$13M
- Jul 2010Series B$9.4M
#10
Series C · Cournon, Brittany · founded 1993$13.7Mraised▾
Quantel Medical manufactures and markets a range of ultrasound and laser products designed for ophthalmology, specifically for Retina, Glaucoma, and Cataract specialties. The company focuses on ocular ultrasound and laser photocoagulation technologies; The ultrasound products use B Scan, Standardized A Mode, A Scan, UBM, and Pachymetry technologies; The laser products include Multispot/Pattern Monospot, MicroPulse, PDT, SLT, and YAG technologies; The laser probes are for retinal applications - Straight & Curved, Flexible curved, and Steerable.
- Sep 2023Series C$13.7M
#11
Public · Paris, Ile de France · founded 2011 · 42 employees$32.5Mraised▾
Provider of bionic vision restoration systems(VRS) that stimulate the retina to progressively obtain bionic vision for patients who had lost their sight. The Bionic VRS is built around three components a retinal implant that contains electrodes, a portable visual interface (goggles with a camera and a data transmission system), and a pocket processor. The camera obtains an image that is converted into electrical signals and transmitted to the implant that stimulates the nerve cells of the inner retina.
- Jul 2021Post IPO$9.4M
- Jan 2021Post IPO$27.9M
- Oct 2020Grant (prize money)—
- Apr 2020Grant (prize money)$74.1K
#12
Acquired · Paris, Ile de France · founded 2005$69Mraised▾
Fovea Pharmaceuticals was focussed in developing drugs for the treatment of ocular diseases, with a special focus on retinal pathologies. It has built a project portfolio including internal research programs on dry AMD, glaucoma (neuroprotection), retinal dystrophies as well as clinical programs underway for such indications as macular edema, allergic conjunctivitis, or retinitis pigmentosa. Its lead product FOV1101, a topical formulation of prednisolone and cyclosporine A for chronic allergic conjunctivitis was into phase 2 clinical trials. It also had phase 2 ready FOV2302 and FOV2301 programs for the treatment of acute and diabetic macular edema respectively. In April 2009, Sanofi acquired Fovea Pharma.
- Dec 2007Series B$44M
- Nov 2005Series A$25M
- 2005Seed—
Funding & investor landscape
Notable founders
Market landscape — 10 sub-themes by coverage
Share of Ophthalmology coverage by sub-theme.
Regulatory-risk over time rising
Funding & growth over time
funding rising · growth rising
How research on Medical Devices is moving in France
A read on the academic research around Medical Devices — which themes are gaining ground, the institutions and researchers driving them, and how the tone is shifting. Based on 210 France-affiliated papers.
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique38
- Sorbonne Université15
- Inserm12
- École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne12
- Université Paris-Saclay9
- Kinematics2→4
- Surgical robot3→4
- Biocompatible material1→7
- Robotics1→5
- Biocompatibility1→5
- Biomedical engineering3→6
- Robotic surgery2→5
- Health care9
- Patient safety7
- Surgical robot6
- Quality (philosophy)6
- European union5
Where medical devices is researched across France
Location clusters by institution affiliation — each city's volume, stance tone, and a quick read on its hot topic, what's advancing, the opening opportunity, and the main concern.
Who's filing medical devices patents in France
France medical devices patent filing is accelerating — 41,094 filings from 8,000 assignees (2016–2025), led by Centre NAT RECH Scient, Sanofi, Commissariat Energie Atomique; annual filings 3927→4016.
- Centre NAT RECH Scient3261
- Sanofi3041
- Commissariat Energie Atomique1770
- Essilor INT1725
- Becton Dickinson France1710
- INST NAT Sante RECH MED1638
- Oreal1560
- Aptar France SAS1273
Common questions
Rohit lives in the feed. He covers what's moving right now — the funding rounds, launches and shifts breaking across the trade press — and ties them back to where the sector is heading.