Developing next generation treatments to preserve vision for patients with diseases affecting the back of the eye

Oxurion at a glance

Oxurion is a biopharmaceutical company developing next-generation standard ophthalmic therapies. These improve preservation of vision in patients with diabetic eye disease, the world's leading cause of blindness in people of working age.

Oxurion's clinical development pipeline comprises two potential new standards of care for DME patients: THR-149, a plasma kallikrein inhibitor for DME-patients who previously respond poorly to anti-VEGF therapy; and THR-687, a pan-RGD integrin antagonist for all DME patients.

Oxurion developed Jetrea® (ocriplasmin), the only pharmacological vitreolysis drug approved for treating symptomatic vitreomacular adhesion (in the U.S.) and vitreomacular traction (outside the U.S.). In March 2020, Oxurion and Inceptua Group signed a global commercial license agreement for Jetrea®.

Oxurion is headquartered in Leuven, Belgium, and is listed on Euronext Brussels under the symbol OXUR.

A word from the CEO and Chairman

Looking back on 2019, Oxurion's CEO Patrik De Haes, M.D. and its Chairman of the Board Thomas Clay agree that the first year after the company rebranding was transformational: The strategic decision was made to focus development on non-VEGF pathways and compounds targeting unmet medical needs of people suffering from diabetic retinal eye disorders.

 

Click here to read the full statement

Our milestones
Jan
2021
Oxurion NV appoints Prof Alan Stitt as Chief Scientific Officer
Professor Alan Stitt: “I look forward to working with the team to help advance and broaden Oxurion’s pipeline. This comprises of novel drug candidates with differentiated modes of action targeting DME and dry AMD."
Oct
2020
Oxurion NV appoints Tom Graney, CFA as Chief Financial Officer
Mr. Graney will be responsible for the extension and execution of the financial strategy to support Oxurion's ambitious global growth plans, including the important US market.
Sep
2020
Oxurion NV Reports First Patient Dosed in Phase 2 study evaluating THR-149 for treatment of Diabetic Macular Edema (DME)
Part A of the study will assess the optimal dose from 3 different dose levels of 3 THR-149 injections – read out anticipated around mid-2021.
Aug
2020
Oxurion NV appoints Grace Chang, M.D., Ph.D. as Chief Medical Officer
Dr. Chang will be responsible for leading the Company’s clinical programs for both THR-687 and THR-149 as Oxurion looks to build a world-leading diabetic macular edema (DME) franchise.
Mar
2020
Oxurion NV and Inceptua Group sign global commercial license agreement for Jetrea®
Jan
2020
POSITIVE DATA FROM PHASE 1 STUDY EVALUATING THR-687 FOR DME
THR-687 proved to be well-tolerated and safe, and showed a promising rapid onset of action and prolonged effect on BCVA.
Dec
2019
FOCUS ON NON-VEGF PATHWAYS FOR TREATMENT OF DME
Oxurion announced it will focus its clinical research and development on molecules targeting non-VEGF pathways for the treatment of DME.
Sep
2019
ADDITIONAL POSITIVE DATA FROM PHASE 1 STUDY WITH THR-149
Next to an immediate onset of action and a prolonged effect, this study showed macular volume is correlated with improvement in BCVA.
Aug
2019
MONTH 3 RESULTS OF PHASE 2a STUDY WITH THR-317
The combination therapy of THR-317 with Ranibizumab did not show an increase in mean BCVA at Month 3, except for 2 pre-specified subgroups.
Jul
2019
Positive Topline Data for Phase 1 Results with THR-149 for treating DME
Oxurion NV Reports Positive Topline Phase 1 Results with THR-149, a novel, potent plasma kallikrein inhibitor for the treatment of DME.
Apr
2019
Enrollment complete for Phase 2 clinical study for treating DME
Oxurion NV announces full enrollment of its Phase 2 trial evaluating...
Nov
2018
Oxurion and Beta Therapeutics to develop new heparanase inhibitors for treatment of dry AMD
Sep
2018
First Patient enrolled in Phase II Clinical Study Evaluating THR-317 for treatment of MacTel 1
The study evaluates the efficacy and safety of THR-317 for the treatment of Macular Telangiectasia Type 1. This is a rare disease that affects the macula and can lead to vision loss.
Sep
2018
First Patient enrolled in Phase I Clinical Trial of THR-687 for Treatment of DME
Preclinical studies have demonstrated the role of THR-687 (a pan RGD integrin antagonist) in targeting multiple aspects of retinal disease such as vessel leakage, inflammation, and neovascularization.
Sep
2018
ThromboGenics becomes Oxurion
Apr
2018
Initiation of a Phase II clinical trial evaluating THR-317 incombination with Lucentis (anti-VEGF)
Apr
2018
Positive data from THR-317 Phase I/IIa clinical trial
The data confirm a good safety and tolerability of THR-317, and a clinically relevant biological activity.
Dec
2017
First patients recruited in a Phase I/IIa clinical trial evaluating THR-317 (anti-PlGF) for treatment of DME.
Sep
2017
The company regains full global commercial rights to its product JETREA®
Through an agreement with Novartis, the company regains full global commercial rights to JETREA®. Under the terms of the agreement, the company receives a forthcoming equity investment of €10 million.
May
2016
Oncurious recruits first patient in trial with TB-403
Oncurious recruits its first patient in a Phase I/IIa clinical trial evaluating TB-403 (anti-PlGF) for treatment of medulloblastoma, a rare and life-threatening brain tumor that affects children.
Mar
2016
Investor meeting on novel disease-modifying approaches for diabetic eye disease
The approach has a current focus on diabetic eye disease, mainly diabetic retinopathy/diabetic macular edema, while providing a platform to develop therapies for other ophthalmological indications.
Apr
2015
Creation of Oncurious NV for oncology research
Mar
2015
New pathways: drug development for diabetic eye disease
In 2015, ThromboGenics took a strategic decision to focus its resources on drug development. This decision was driven by the significant potential of our exciting and broad pipeline of next-generation medicines...
Mar
2015
JETREA® approval in over 50 countries worldwide
Mar
2013
EU approval and commercial launch of JETREA® outside the U.S.
European Medicines Agency (EMA) approves JETREA® (Ocriplasmin) for the Treatment of vitreomacular traction (VMT). Alcon launches JETREA in the first markets in Europe.
Jan
2013
Commercial launch of JETREA® in the U.S.
Oct
2012
US FDA Approval for ocriplasmin
The FDA approves ocriplasmin for the treatment of symptomatic vitreomacular adhesion (VMA) in the United States.
Aug
2008
Patrik De Haes, MD, appointed CEO
Aug
2006
Ocriplasmin for vitreoretinal indications
Jul
2006
ThromboGenics listed on Euronext Brussels
Jan
2001
ThromboGenics founded
ThromboGenics broadens the company's R&D scope to include cardiovascular, oncology and ophthalmology programs in-licensed from the University of Leuven and the Flanders Institute for Biotechnology (VIB).
Aug
1991
Thromb-X created
In 1991, Prof. Dr. Désiré Collen and colleagues at Katholieke Universiteit Leuven create Thromb-X NV, with an initial focus on the cardiovascular space.
Our mission

Our goal is to prevent vision loss and fight blindness worldwide by developing and delivering next-generation treatments for retinal disorders. We aim to lower the burden of treatment for patients and enhance practice management for physicians. We develop innovative compounds that each target a distinct, unexplored pathway to answer unmet medical needs in ophthalmology, with a focus on back of the eye disease. 

Our current pipeline of unique drug candidates is focused on new treatment approaches for diabetic eye disease, and we will continue leveraging our expertise in diseases affecting the back of the eye to expand our pipeline to address additional indications with high unmet needs. We are committed to innovation through cross-disciplinary and cooperative research across the globe. Collaborating with stakeholders worldwide, we aim to deliver solutions enabling equal, affordable vision preservation for all people.

Part of a global retina community

The engagement of Oxurion reaches far beyond R&D and the promotions of new therapies. Through sustainable partnerships with social initiatives ‑ medical charity, education, culture - Oxurion is committed to increasing patient access to therapies for disorders affecting the back of the eye. Together, we set our sights on preventing vision loss, fighting blindness and providing a better quality of life to those in need.

Retina Global

This international non-profit focused on sustainable solutions for retinal services in underserved areas around the world. Oxurion is currently supporting Retina Global in organizing certification courses in diabetic retinopathy for ophthalmologists and ophthalmology residents in Bolivia. "In underserved areas, there is a great need to treat diabetic retinopathy (DR). Everywhere we go we see people with DR, and often treatment is unaffordable or there simply isn't a retina specialist available. Doctors in these countries don't always have the knowledge or the tools to diagnose these eye diseases", Rajat Agrawal, CEO of Retina Global, explains.

Prevent Blindness

This volunteer eye health and safety organization is dedicated to fighting blindness and saving sight for over a century. Oxurion is currently partnering with Prevent Blindness to encourage people to make their eye health a priority. "Through awareness and education, our goal is to minimize the damaging effects that diabetes can have on vision", Jeff Todd, CEO of Prevent Blindness, says.

              

Our team
People at Oxurion

Oxurion employs 77 people worldwide, all are united by a shared goal: to make Oxurion a global leader in developing and commercializing innovative treatments for chronic eye disorders.

Most members of the Oxurion international team hold a master’s or PhD degree. The majority works at our headquarters in Leuven (Belgium) or from our office in New Jersey (U.S.).

Each member of the Oxurion team provides a distinct viewpoint and set of experiences in the biopharmaceutical industry. The diversity and experience of the team stimulates creativity and problem-solving while enabling the company to successfully develop and commercialize therapeutics to preserve the vision of patients worldwide.

Want to join our team?

Visit our careers site or contact us

Board of Directors
 

Thomas Clay

Non-Executive, Independent Director, Chairman

Thomas Clay is the Managing Member of Epacria Capital Partners, LLC, a single-family office managing public and private investments for members of the Clay family. He also serves as a Director of several private companies and of the Clay Mathematics Institute, Inc. Thomas is a graduate of Harvard College, Oxford University, and Harvard Business School. Thomas replaced his father, Landon Clay, who led the first external investment into Oxurion and resigned from the Board of Directors in 2011.

 

Patrik De Haes, MD, (ViBio BV)

Chief Executive Officer, Executive Director

Dr Patrik De Haes has over 25 years of experience in the global healthcare industry, covering product development, marketing and general management. Before joining Oxurion as CEO in 2008, Patrik was Head of Roche's Global Insulin Infusion business. Prior to this, he was President and CEO of Disetronic Medical Systems Inc, a medical device company based in Minneapolis, USA. He also led the global development and commercialization of the first biotech product at Sandoz Pharma (now Novartis) in Switzerland. As past Chairman of FlandersBio, Patrik is an active member of the local and regional biotech and life sciences community in Belgium. Patrik is also Executive Chairman of Oncurious NV, an emerging oncology company co-created by Oxurion NV and VIB life sciences. Patrik holds a degree in Medicine from the University of Leuven.

 

Adrienne Graves, PhD

Non-Executive Director, Independent Director

Dr. Graves is a board member of multiple companies and organizations including IVERIC bio, Nicox, the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery, the Glaucoma Research Foundation, and the American Academy of Ophthalmology. She was the president and chief executive officer of Santen, Inc., the US arm of Japan’s largest ophthalmic pharmaceutical company, Santen Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. Before becoming the president and chief executive officer, she was the vice president of clinical affairs and senior vice president of worldwide clinical affairs for Japan, US and Europe at Santen, Inc. Prior to Santen, Inc., Dr. Graves was the director of international ophthalmology at Alcon Laboratories, Inc. She was also the co-founder of Glaucoma 360 (Glaucoma Research Foundation) and Ophthalmic Women Leaders (OWL). Dr. Graves received her bachelor’s degree in psychology with honors from Brown University, her Ph.D. from the University of Michigan in psychobiology and completed a postdoctoral fellowship in visual neuroscience from the University of Paris.

 

David Guyer, MD

Non-Executive Director

Dr David Guyer MD is a long-standing member of the US retina community and is currently the Co-Founder and Executive Chairman of IVERIC bio (formerly Ophthotech Corporation). He was previously the CEO of Ophthotech. Dr Guyer is also on the Boards of iStar Medical and EyePoint Pharmaceuticals. He co-founded and served as CEO and a Director of Eyetech Pharmaceuticals, Inc., where he led the company through private, public and corporate financings, and oversaw the rapid development and successful commercialization of Macugen® (pegaptanib sodium), the first FDA-approved anti-VEGF pharmacological treatment for the treatment of wet AMD. Dr Guyer has also had a successful career in academic medicine as Professor and Chairman of the Department of Ophthalmology at New York University School of Medicine. Dr Guyer received his Bachelor of Science (BSc) degree from Yale College summa cum laude and his medical degree (MD) from Johns Hopkins Medical School. He completed his ophthalmology residency at Wilmer Ophthalmological Institute at Johns Hopkins Hospital and a retinal fellowship at the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary at Harvard Medical School.

 

Emmanuèle Attout

Non-Executive, Independent Director

Emmanuèle Attout has been an audit partner at PriceWaterhouseCoopers from 1994 to 2014, in charge of audits of a range of clients in various sectors, including listed companies and pharmaceutical and life sciences companies, from which she brings substantial relevant experience to the Board and to the Audit Committee. Emmanuèle is an independent non-executive director, chair of the Audit Committee, of Atenor SA, AG Insurance SA/NV and Schréder SA. She is a supervisory board member of Eurocommercial Properties NV. Since 2009, Emmanuèle is co-founder and director of the ngo Women on Board. Emmanuèle graduated in Applied Economic Sciences at the Catholic University of Louvain.

 

Baron Philippe Vlerick

Non-Executive, Independent Director

Philippe Vlerick is the owner, Chairman and CEO of several businesses in Belgium and abroad. He currently serves as the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Vlerick Group (Belgium), and as Chairman and CEO of UCO NV, Chairman of Pentahold. Chairman of Smartphoto Group and Chairman of the Festival Van Vlaanderen. Baron Vlerick is also Vice-chairman of KBC Group and is a member of the Board of Directors of Exmar, Besix Group, Mediahuis, BMT and L.V.D. (Belgium). Mr Vlerick holds a Degree in Philosophy and Law from the University of Leuven, and an MBA General Management degree (PUB) (Ghent, Vlerick School of Management – 1979). He also holds a master’s degree in Business Administration from Indiana University, Bloomington (USA – 1980). In 2006, he was voted Manager of the Year by Trends, a leading business magazine in Belgium. He was granted the title of Baron in 2008 and became Commander of the Order of Leopold in 2013.

Executive Committee
 

Patrik De Haes, MD

Chief Executive Officer

Patrik De Haes, MD, has over 25 years of experience in the global healthcare industry in product development, marketing and general management. Before joining Oxurion as CEO in 2008, Patrik was head of Roche’s Global Insulin Infusion division. Prior to that he was President and CEO of Disetronic Medical Systems Inc., a medical device company based in Minneapolis, USA. He also led the global development and commercialization of the first biotech product at Sandoz Pharma (now Novartis) in Switzerland. Patrik holds a degree in Medicine from the University of Leuven. 

 

Tom Graney, CFA

Chief Financial Officer

Tom Graney, has extensive global finance experience that spans corporate development, commercial strategy, portfolio management and supply chain management, communication and investor relations.  He is the former Chief Financial Officer of Generation Bio, was Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer at Vertex Pharmaceuticals Inc. and Chief Financial Officer and Senior Vice President of Finance & Corporate Strategy at Ironwood Pharmaceuticals. Prior to Ironwood Pharmaceuticals, Mr. Graney spent 20 years working with J&J and its affiliates, serving for four years as worldwide vice president of finance and Chief Financial Officer of Ethicon.  A Chartered Financial Analyst charterholder, Mr. Graney holds a B.S. in accounting from the University of Delaware and an M.B.A. in Marketing, Finance and International Business from the Leonard N. Stern School of Business at New York University. 

 

Grace Chang, MD, PhD

Chief Medical Officer

Dr.Chang joins Oxurion from Notal Vision Inc, where she held the position of CMO and was responsible for the scientific and clinical strategy, clinical development and medical affairs programs. She is a board-certified medical and surgical retina specialist and is an Adjunct Clinical Associate Professor in the Department of Ophthalmology, Vitreoretinal Service at the University of Southern California.

Prior to this, Dr. Chang held several high-level clinical and strategic roles at Alcon, a former subsidiary of Novartis, following a faculty appointment at the University of Washington.

Dr. Chang completed her ophthalmology residency and vitreoretinal fellowship at Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary. Additionally, Dr. Chang earned her M.D. from Stanford University, and her Ph.D. from the California Institute of Technology.

 

Prof Alan Stitt, PhD

Chief Scientific Officer

Prof Stitt was appointed CSO of Oxurion in January 2021, and is currently overlooking all preclinical research at the Company. Alan Stitt holds the McCauley Chair of Experimental Ophthalmology at Queen’s University of Belfast since 2001 and is internationally known for his research in ophthalmology, particularly in the pathogenesis of diabetic retinopathy and age-related retinal disease.  As a member of the Royal Irish Academy (RIA) and a Fellow of the US Association for Research in Vision & Ophthalmology (ARVO), Alan contributes significantly to the international academic community by serving on advisory boards and grant panels, and has a range of editor and editorial board memberships in the ophthalmology arena.  

 

Kathleen Paisley

Chief Legal Officer and General Counsel 

Kathleen Paisley is Chief Legal Officer and General Counsel at Oxurion.  She has acted as outside counsel to Oxurion since 2011 and has extensive experience in biotechnology and pharmaceuticals in Europe and the United States. She is a US national who has been based in Brussels, London and the Hague for most of her career.  Prior to joining Oxurion, she served as a partner of Morrison & Foerster, White & Case and Ambos Lawyers, and has held previous in-house positions in London and Belgium.  She is a member of the New York and D.C. bars and is triple qualified with degrees from Yale Law School, an MBA in finance and has passed the Certified Public Accountancy exam, all of which expertise she brings to bear in running the legal function at Oxurion.   

 

Andy De Deene, MD, MBA

Chief Development Officer

Andy De Deene has extensive experience in drug development, including clinical development, pharmacovigilance and medical affairs. He previously worked as both Manager and Director for the Janssen Research Foundation and XCellentis in Belgium. Andy holds an MD from the University of Ghent, trained as a dermatologist at the University of Cologne, and obtained an executive MBA from Vlerick Management School.

 

Michaël Dillen

Chief Corporate Development Officer

Michaël heads Corporate Development and is Secretary to the Board of Directors at Oxurion. He has gained vast experience in strategic partnering, corporate finance and M&A. Prior to joining Oxurion, Michaël was a senior corporate development executive at Mithra Pharmaceuticals, a biotech company listed on Euronext. Before, he worked for Terumo, a Japanese stock listed medtech and pharma company. He initiated his career as a lawyer, where he developed a legal practice focusing on corporate and commercial advisory towards both private and institutional clients in the life sciences industry.

Michaël holds a master’s degree in business (Solvay Business School) and a degree corporate finance (Saïd Business School, University of Oxford), as well as a law degree (LL.M.) in both business and in health regulations (University of Antwerp and Queen Mary and Westfield College, University of London).

 

Julie Binon

Chief People Officer

Julie has over 15 years of experience in senior Human Resource roles in international companies. Prior to Oxurion, Julie was leading HR projects at a.o. Deloitte, Avnet (IT distribution), and was EMEA HR Manager at Nu Skin Enterprises, a US-listed company active in skincare and food supplements. She started her career as an attorney at law and tax consultant at Ernst & Young.

Julie holds a Master's Degree in Law and in Tax Law (Catholic University of Leuven).

Partnerships

Oxurion relies on a network of experienced partners to bring the best possible eye care to patients across the globe. These partnerships include research collaboration, co-development, co-commercialization, and in-licensing agreements.

We are always open to new opportunities for partnership and collaboration for improving eye care.

Want to become a partner? Contact us!

Venture projects

Oxurion is focused on developing innovative medicine and continues to broaden its activities through strategic research projects, joint development, licensing deals and joint ventures. Oncurious is a joint venture between Oxurion and VIB, the leading life science research institute in Flanders, Belgium. It is focused on developing innovative medicines for treating a broad spectrum of cancers. 

The company is developing a portfolio of next-generation immunooncology assets, drawing on seminal work at the VIB-KU Leuven labs of Gabriele Bergers and Massimiliano Mazzone and the VIB-VUB lab of Jo Van Ginderachter. Oncurious’s phase I/IIa clinical trial with TB-403 (anti-PlGF) researches alternative treatment options for medulloblastoma, a rare life-threatening brain tumor in children.

Global locations

Corporate HQ

Oxurion nv
Gaston Geenslaan 1
B-3001 Leuven
Belgium

T +32 16 75 13 10
F +32 16 75 13 11

USA

ThromboGenics, Inc. - subsidiary of Oxurion nv
101 Wood Avenue South
Suite 610
Iselin, NJ 08830 USA

T +1 732 590 2900
T +1 855 301 1600

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