By Melane Sampson
Closely held Siloton is developing a patented miniaturized medical imaging platform that combines photonic chips with optical coherence tomography (OCT) to detect and monitor a range of prevalent ophthalmic diseases such as wet AMD and diabetic macular oedema, and more.
“We are the first company in the world to capture a retinal image and identify eye disease using a photonic chip, which places us at the forefront of other companies developing this type of technology,” Alasdair Price, PhD, co-founder and CEO of Siloton, says in an interview with BioTuesdays.
The company’s handheld OCT device is being developed as a binocular-style imaging system that will eventually be used in clinics, community care settings, and at home as part of a monitoring service. The platform is designed to reduce reliance on conventional OCT systems, which are typically large, expensive, and confined to specialized clinical environments because of their size and hardware fragility.
“Having access to a device like this at home or in a community setting could be transformative not only for diagnosis, but also for monitoring disease progression,” Dr. Price says. “It could help physicians identify clinically significant changes earlier while reducing unnecessary treatments—injections into the eye—that most patients would prefer to avoid.”
He points out that OCT imaging has become the gold standard for monitoring many retinal diseases, providing clinicians with high-resolution images of the back of the eye. However, despite decades of technological advancements, access to OCT imaging remains limited outside hospitals and large ophthalmology clinics.
“Current OCT systems are largely confined to clinical settings because of their size and hardware fragility, whereas our technology could enable portable imaging systems that patients can use in their own homes,” Dr. Price says.
Siloton’s core innovation lies in replacing the mirrors, lenses, optical fibres, and bulky hardware used in traditional OCT systems with a compact photonic chip fabricated using semiconductor manufacturing techniques similar to those used for consumer electronics.
Dr. Price explains that Akepa is Siloton’s first-generation OCT chip, integrating more than 300 optical and electronic components. Approximately 70% of the OCT system is already contained on-chip, which he says is near the level of integration required for a commercial product.
He emphasizes that the chip has already been fabricated in a commercial foundry, providing what the company believes is a viable pathway toward high-volume manufacturing.
By integrating what would traditionally require tabletop-sized hardware onto a chip smaller than a quarter, Siloton believes it can significantly reduce system costs while expanding access to retinal imaging.
Ophthalmic diseases, such as AMD, retinal vein occlusion, and diabetic macular oedema affect an estimated 400 million people globally, placing millions at risk of vision loss, resulting in a growing healthcare burden. “Our technology could substantially reduce that burden through earlier detection and more frequent monitoring,” Dr. Price contends.
Joining BioTuesdays is Ben Hunt, PhD, co-founder and chief commercial officer of Siloton, who says the company intends to price their systems well below conventional OCT systems in order to broaden adoption among smaller clinics, community practices, and optometry providers.
“Traditional OCT systems can cost from $50,000 to more than $200,000 for higher-end models,” Dr. Hunt says. “We believe we can reduce that cost by an order of magnitude, creating a significant market disruption.”
He adds that the portable platform could also improve workflow efficiency for clinicians operating across multiple locations by eliminating the need for several of the large tabletop systems. “In many ophthalmology departments today, patients are moved between rooms for imaging, visual assessments, and treatments,” Dr. Hunt notes. “A portable binocular-style system would streamline the process for clinicians with a patient-friendly option.”
The company sees substantial opportunity in expanding OCT access beyond major urban centers and large healthcare systems. “Many smaller optometry practices cannot afford existing OCT systems so reducing the cost and footprint of the technology could significantly expand access in rural and underserved communities,” Dr. Hunt says.
Siloton believes one of the largest opportunities for its platform lies in at-home monitoring for chronic retinal diseases such as wet AMD, where disease progression can occur rapidly between scheduled clinic visits.
Dr. Price explains that patients with this disease often require repeated anti-VEGF injections directly into the eye to control fluid buildup behind the retina. However, clinicians currently have limited visibility into disease progression between monthly or even less frequent appointments.
“Right now, clinicians don’t really know what’s happening in the patient’s eye between visits,” Dr. Price asserts. “By the time fluid accumulation is detected during a scheduled appointment, some vision damage may already have occurred.”
He adds that more frequent monitoring could potentially allow physicians to intervene earlier, reduce overtreatment, and improve patient outcomes while lowering healthcare costs. “Our technology could generate significant healthcare savings by reducing unnecessary clinic visits and enabling earlier intervention.”
Dr. Price highlights that imaging data generated by the device will be uploaded in real time through either Wi-Fi or cellular connectivity to a cloud-based physician portal. “The cloud platform will serve as the primary interface for clinicians to review scans, while also allowing integration with electronic healthcare records and third-party software platforms. An added benefit is that patients will also be able to access their own results—something they cannot currently do without going to the clinic.”
Beyond ophthalmology, Siloton believes its photonic-chip technology could support a broad range of additional clinical applications, including dermatology, dentistry, otology, oncology, and veterinary medicine.
The company also sees pharmaceutical trials as an important early commercial opportunity. Siloton believes remote OCT monitoring could help drug developers identify adverse ocular events earlier and improve patient oversight during ophthalmic clinical trials.
According to Dr. Price, pharmaceutical companies are increasingly interested in technologies that allow real-time monitoring of patients participating in studies involving retinal therapies or novel drug delivery systems. “This creates a very attractive early market for us because the workflow closely mirrors the long-term home-monitoring opportunity,” he says.
Over the long term. Siloton believes its platform could contribute to the emerging field of oculomics, where retinal imaging data may help identify broader systemic diseases, including neurodegenerative and cardiovascular disorders.
Dr. Price suggests that the eye provides a unique window into systemic health. “Researchers have increasingly identified links between retinal changes and diseases such as Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, and multiple sclerosis, creating potential opportunities for earlier detection and monitoring,” he says. “As larger imaging datasets become available, there is significant potential to identify disease much earlier.”
Notably, the company has secured contracts related to spaceflight-associated neuro-ocular syndrome research, where compact imaging systems are needed for future long-duration space missions.
Dr. Price specifies that Siloton closed its second investment round in July 2024, raising more than $1 million to support development of its first live eye imaging system, advance ISO13485 accreditation activities, and expand revenue-generating operations. To date, the company has secured approximately $2.2 million in funding and is currently in the process of raising $1.75 million in additional capital.
Looking ahead, Dr. Price says the company is focused on improving image quality, advancing product development, and preparing for regulatory submissions.
“Having now derisked and validated our core technology, our next priority is commercialization,” he says. “We intend to take a dual approach, targeting the U.S. market by pursuing FDA clearance and the UK market with CE clearance, which will, of course, also open opportunities in continental Europe.”
Dr. Price sees a significant opportunity to disrupt what is estimated as a $37 billion market spanning ophthalmology, diagnostics, and remote patient monitoring.
“We believe our combination of proprietary photonic-chip technology, scalable manufacturing, and expanding intellectual property—complemented by a talented team that is unique in OCT—positions us very strongly for future growth. We are very excited about where the company is headed,” he concludes.
Reach out to investors@siloton.com for further information.
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