Amakem

About Amakem

Amakem, a biopharmaceutical company established in 2010, focused on the development of novel treatments for serious ophthalmic diseases. The company was founded by Dirk Leysen, with Jack Elands as a co-founder and chief executive officer. Mr. Elands brought extensive experience to the venture, having started his career at Marion Merrell Dow and held leadership roles at several other biotech companies. His background in neuropharmacology, with a Ph.D. from the University of Utrecht, was instrumental in guiding the company's scientific direction.

The firm operated from the life sciences incubator "BioVille" at the University of Hasselt in Belgium and collaborated with the Ophthalmology Research Center of the University of Leuven Hospital. Amakem's business was centered on its proprietary 'Localized Drug Action' platform, which aimed to create kinase inhibitors that act locally on the target organ, thereby minimizing systemic exposure and associated side effects. The company's primary market was ophthalmology, with a lead product candidate, AMA0076, specifically developed for the treatment of glaucoma. This novel Rho Kinase (ROCK) inhibitor was designed to reduce intraocular pressure by acting on the eye's main outflow system while avoiding common side effects like hyperemia (red eye).

Amakem successfully raised capital to fund its research and development efforts, securing €18 million in a Series A financing round in September 2011 from a syndicate of European life sciences investors, including Forbion, Omnes Capital, LRM, and Vesalius BioCapital. This funding was crucial for advancing AMA0076 through preclinical and clinical development. The company progressed its lead candidate into Phase II clinical trials to evaluate its safety and efficacy in patients with primary open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension. Subsequently, the glaucoma drug program was out-licensed to a Korean group, and the company is reported to be no longer active.