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Amakem raises €18 million for development of glaucoma treatment
DIEPENBEEK, Belgium — Amakem has raised €18 million in series A funding to position a localized glaucoma treatment for proof of concept, according to a news release.
Forbion Capital Partners, Crédit Agricole Private Equity and Vesalius BioCapital joined existing investors LRM, PMV and Life Sciences Research Partners for the investment round.
Amakem is developing AMA0076, a potent Rho-kinase inhibitor for the treatment of glaucoma. In preclinical studies, AMA0076 has proven highly effective in reducing IOP while preventing side effects such as hyperemia. The agent is delivered through a proprietary localized drug action platform that targets a specific organ and limits or prevents systemic absorption. The platform has also been used to deliver Rho-kinase inhibitors to the lungs, skin, gastrointestinal tract and ears.
The company is developing treatments for other ocular diseases in conjunction with several partners, including the Ophthalmology Research Center of the University Leuven Hospital.
"Since Amakem's foundation in 2010, we have strongly advanced our Localized Drug Action platform and, in AMA0076, have developed a highly promising candidate for the treatment of one of the most important eye diseases," Jack Elands, CEO of Amakem, said in the release.