Amakem, a Belgian clinical stage ophthalmology company, says Jean Marie Stassen has joined the firm as Vice President, Research and Development.
Most recently Stassen was Head of Research & Development at Thrombogenics where he played a pivotal role in the development of ThromboGenics’ lead product, ocriplasmin (JETREA), from early pre-clinical through to regulatory submission. He joined ThromboGenics in 2001 and remained with the company until retiring in 2012.
Prior to working at ThromboGenics, Stassen was a Research Project Leader for the cardiovascular therapeutic area at Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma, including work leading to the discovery of dabigatran (Pradaxa) and the registration of tenecteplase (TNKase).
Before moving into the pharmaceutical industry, Stassen spent 20 years at KU Leuven working on the characterisation of tPA (Alteplase) and staphylokinase, as well as on research involving anti-thrombotic and thrombolytic therapy.
Stassen is co-founder of FlandersBio, the umbrella organisation for the Life Sciences and Biotechnology sector in Flanders, and was a board member of the Centre for Medical Innovation (CMI).
Amakem has also announced that Dirk Leysen, co-founder of Amakem, will step down from his role as Chief Scientific Officer, but will continue to be involved with Amakem through his position on the Board as a Director.
