CAMBRIDGE, Mass., May 29, 2024 — Alkeus Pharmaceuticals, Inc. today announced that
Eric L. Trachtenberg, J.D., M.B.A., has joined the company as Chief Legal Officer.
“We are excited to welcome Eric to the Alkeus leadership team,” said Leonide Saad, Ph.D., President
and CEO of Alkeus Pharmaceuticals. “His exceptional experience in legal, compliance and strategic
leadership helping biopharmaceutical companies navigate expansion along the path to
commercialization will be critical to our growth as we work to bring our breakthrough-designated
therapy to patients.”
Prior to joining Alkeus, Trachtenberg was Chief Legal Officer, Chief Compliance Officer and
Corporate Secretary of Kala Bio, Inc., an ophthalmology company focused on the research and
development of innovative therapies for rare and severe eye diseases. His experience also includes
senior leadership roles at Aralez Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Auxilium Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Enobia
Pharma Corp., Sepracor Inc., and Kos Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Trachtenberg began his career at Blank
Rome LLP where he specialized in mergers and acquisitions and securities law. He holds a Juris
Doctorate and Master of Business Administration from Temple University and a Bachelor of Science
in Management from Tulane University.
“I’m thrilled to have the opportunity to join Alkeus at this critical time as it prepares to submit its
new drug application to the FDA for the treatment of Stargardt disease,” Trachtenberg said. “It is an
honor to be part of this outstanding team that is deeply committed to serving patients living with
this serious condition.”
About Alkeus Pharmaceuticals
Alkeus Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is a private biopharmaceutical company with headquarters in
Cambridge, Mass., backed by institutional investors led by Bain Capital Life Sciences. Founded in
2010, Alkeus is developing therapies for serious diseases of the eye with high unmet need. Alkeus’
breakthrough-designated lead candidate, gildeuretinol acetate (ALK-001), is currently being
evaluated in clinical trials for the treatment of Stargardt disease and for geographic atrophy (GA)
secondary to age-related macular degeneration (AMD).
About Gildeuretinol (ALK-001)
Gildeuretinol acetate (ALK-001) is a novel molecule created as a specialized form of deuterated
vitamin A designed to reduce the dimerization of vitamin A without disrupting vision. In preclinical
studies, gildeuretinol decreased vitamin A dimerization to the normal rate seen in unaffected
individuals and prevented retinal degeneration and loss of visual function in animals with Stargardt
disease. Gildeuretinol has received breakthrough therapy designation and orphan drug designation
from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. In addition to the TEASE trials, a Phase 3 (SAGA) study
of gildeuretinol in 200 patients with geographic atrophy (GA) secondary to age-related macular
degeneration (AMD) is expected to read out topline data in 2024.