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§ Private Profile · Diepenbeek, Belgium
Clinical-stage biotechnology company developing novel kinase inhibitors using its Localized Drug Action platform for eye diseases like glaucoma.
Amakem was a clinical-stage biotechnology company based in Diepenbeek, Belgium, that developed targeted kinase inhibitors and localized treatments for serious eye conditions. The organization utilized its proprietary Localized Drug Action platform to create novel therapies designed to minimize systemic side effects, primarily focusing on a Rho Kinase inhibitor named AMA0076 for the treatment of glaucoma. Prior to ceasing its operations and entering liquidation around 2016, the firm raised over €21 million in total equity financing, which included an €18 million Series A round to advance its lead candidate through Phase 2a clinical trials. The biotechnology company's clinical development efforts were backed by a syndicate of venture capital investors that included Forbion Capital Partners, Vesalius Biocapital, and PMV. Amakem was founded in 2010 as a spin-off from Devgen and the Flanders Institute for Biotechnology by Dirk Leysen.
Amakem has raised $25.0M across 1 funding round.
Amakem has raised $25.0M in total across 1 funding round.
Amakem has raised $25.0M across 1 funding round. Most recently, it raised $25.0M Series A in September 2011.
| Date | Round | Lead Investors | Other Investors | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 1, 2011 | $25M Series A | Forbion | Emmanuelle Coutanceau, Chris Buyse, LRM, Kenneth W., Gaston Matthyssens | Announced |
Amakem has raised $25.0M in total across 1 funding round.
Amakem's investors include Forbion, Emmanuelle Coutanceau, Chris Buyse, LRM, Kenneth W., Gaston Matthyssens.
Amakem NV is a Belgium-based biopharmaceutical company specializing in ophthalmology, developing novel kinase inhibitors for serious eye conditions like glaucoma using its proprietary Localized Drug Action platform. This technology creates drugs administered locally that deactivate in the bloodstream, minimizing systemic side effects.[1][3][4] Its lead candidate, AMA0076 (also known as Sovesudil), targets glaucoma—a condition causing optic nerve damage and vision loss—offering improved efficacy over existing treatments that fail some patients or cause issues like hyperemia.[1][6] The platform extends to other eye diseases and potentially bowel (IBD, Crohn’s, colitis), lung (PAH, IPF, COPD), and retinal conditions (DR, DME, AMD).[2]
Amakem serves patients with unmet needs in eye care, solving problems of ineffective or side-effect-prone therapies through targeted, safer inhibitors. In 2014, it raised €18 million in Series A funding led by Forbion Capital Partners, with participation from Crédit Agricole Private Equity, Vesalius BioCapital, LRM, PMV, and Life Sciences Research Partners, fueling advancement of AMA0076 to clinical proof-of-concept.[1][4]
Amakem emerged from Belgium's life sciences ecosystem, headquartered in the BioVille incubator at the University of Hasselt with a long-standing collaboration with the Ophthalmology Research Center at the University of Leuven.[1] Founded prior to its 2014 Series A (exact year not specified in available data), the company built its pipeline around the innovative Localized Drug Action platform, pioneered to generate kinase inhibitors with organ-specific effects.[1][3][5]
The idea stemmed from addressing limitations in kinase inhibitor therapies, particularly for ophthalmology, where systemic exposure causes off-target side effects. Early traction came via the €18 million raise, enabling progression of lead glaucoma candidate AMA0076—a highly potent Rho Kinase (ROCK) inhibitor—toward clinical stages, marking a pivotal moment in validating its technology.[1][6]
Amakem stands out in biopharma through these key strengths:
Amakem rides the wave of precision biopharma, particularly kinase inhibitor innovation amid rising demand for ophthalmology treatments as aging populations drive glaucoma and retinal disease prevalence. Its timing aligns with advances in targeted drug delivery, where minimizing systemic exposure addresses a key bottleneck in ROCK inhibitors and similar therapies.[1][2] Market forces like increasing eye disease burdens (e.g., 80 million global glaucoma cases projected by 2020s) and investor interest in de-risked platforms favor Amakem.[1]
The company influences the ecosystem by pioneering localized action for kinases, potentially setting standards for organ-specific therapies beyond eyes, fostering collaborations with academic centers like Leuven, and attracting life sciences VCs to European biotech hubs.[1][3]
Amakem's path forward hinges on AMA0076/Sovesudil clinical readouts, with potential Phase II/III progression unlocking partnerships or acquisition by big pharma seeking differentiated glaucoma assets. Expanding the platform to lung and bowel indications could diversify revenue amid growing kinase therapy markets. Trends like AI-driven drug design and personalized ophthalmology will amplify its edge, evolving Amakem from niche player to platform leader—echoing its founding promise of safer, targeted eye treatments that transform patient outcomes.[1][2][6]