Ocelot Bio, Inc., a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company with a focus on developing treatments for the complications of end-stage liver disease (ESLD), is proud to announce the appointment of Lise Kjems, M.D., Ph.D., as its new Chief Medical Officer.
Dr. Kjems will lead the clinical development of Ocelot Bio’s lead candidate, OCE-205, which is intended to treat hepatorenal syndrome with acute kidney injury (HRS-AKI) and ascites. Dr. Kjems is taking over from founding Chief Scientific & Medical Officer Stan Bukofzer, M.D., who will remain with Ocelot Bio as a Strategic Advisor.
We are excited to announce the appointment of Dr. Anne Kjems as Ocelot Bio’s new Chief Medical Officer! Dr. Kjems brings a wealth of experience in leading successful clinical programs, and we are confident that she will add tremendous value to our team.
We are also grateful for Dr. Bukofzer’s many contributions to the company, particularly in the advancement of OCE-205 for the treatment of ESLD and in taking us to the current Phase 2 clinical studies. We look forward to the progress we will make together under Dr. Kjems’ leadership in the coming years.
Dr. Kjems has over two decades of experience in research and development in a variety of therapeutic areas, such as liver disease, endocrinology, rare disease, autoimmune conditions, gastrointestinal issues, and infectious diseases.
She has a solid track record of successfully leading teams and delivering complex projects, from the initial first-in-human studies to final product approval. Her expertise has been instrumental in advancing treatments and improving patient outcomes.
Dr. Kjems has an impressive career track record of success in the pharmaceutical industry, having achieved an FDA and EMA approval for Albireo Pharma’s drug Bylvay® in progressive familial intrahepatic cholestasis (PFIC) and launching pivotal Phase 3 trials for Bylvay in biliary atresia and Alagille syndrome.
Most recently, she served as the chief medical officer at Cyclo Therapeutics, where she was responsible for leading the global program evaluating Trappsol® Cyclo™ in Alzheimer’s and rare disease. Prior to her time at Cyclo Therapeutics, Dr. Kjems held various positions of increasing responsibility at Aldeyra Therapeutics, Intarcia Therapeutics, Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Johnson & Johnson and Novartis. Now, she has joined Ocelot Bio as their chief medical officer.
Dr. Kjems is an esteemed medical professional with an impressive educational background. She obtained her M.D. and Ph.D. in physiology from the University of Copenhagen Medical Faculty Denmark, and was subsequently invited to be a guest research fellow at the University of Southern California, Keck School of Medicine.
She also served as an industrial research fellow at Novo Nordisk A/S Bagsvaerd Denmark & University of Copenhagen. Her credentials and experience make her an exemplary medical professional.
I am thrilled to join the Ocelot Bio team and be a part of the effort to redefine the treatment paradigm in end-stage liver disease. With the potential to make a meaningful impact on patients in need of new therapeutic options, Ocelot Bio is well on its way to characterizing the potential of OCE-205 as a differentiated therapeutic with a strong efficacy, safety, and tolerability profile. It is an honor to be part of an organization that is committed to addressing a profound unmet medical need in growing patient populations.
About Ocelot Bio
Ocelot Bio is on a mission to revolutionize the care of patients with liver disease. Through developing innovative therapeutics, the clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company seeks to improve outcomes for those living with liver-related conditions.
OCE-205, their lead clinical candidate, is a peptide therapeutic designed to selectively target the complications of portal hypertension, such as hepatorenal syndrome with acute kidney injury (HRS-AKI). With the backing of renowned investors such as Venrock, RA Capital Management and Vivo Capital, Ocelot Bio is leading the charge to revolutionize liver care.