Dezima Pharma

About Dezima Pharma

Dezima Pharma B.V. was a Dutch biotechnology company focused on the clinical development of treatments for dyslipidemia, a condition characterized by abnormal levels of lipids in the blood. Founded in 2012 by Professor John Kastelein, a leading expert in vascular medicine and genetics of cardiovascular disease at the University of Amsterdam, the company operated from Naarden, Netherlands. Professor Kastelein's extensive background in lipidology and the genetic basis of dyslipidemia was central to the company's scientific direction.

The company's primary asset was TA-8995 (also known as obicetrapib), an oral, once-daily cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) inhibitor. Dezima in-licensed the drug from Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Corporation (MTPC) in 2013. The business model centered on advancing this lead candidate through clinical trials to demonstrate its value as a therapy for patients with cardiovascular disease. Its product aimed to reduce low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), a major risk factor for cardiovascular events. In a Phase 2b clinical trial, TA-8995 demonstrated a significant reduction of LDL-C levels, both as a monotherapy and in combination with statins.

Dezima's journey culminated in a significant milestone in September 2015 when it was acquired by the global biotechnology firm Amgen. The acquisition agreement was valued at up to $1.55 billion, comprising an upfront cash payment of $300 million and potential future payments based on development and sales milestones. Following the acquisition, Dezima became a wholly owned subsidiary of Amgen, strengthening Amgen's cardiovascular portfolio. In an interesting turn, some of Dezima's original founders later formed a new company, NewAmsterdam Pharma, and in 2020 reacquired the rights to the same drug, then named obicetrapib, from Amgen to pursue a new development strategy.