Cyclops®

About us

PureIMS is a clinical stage pharmaceutical company focused on developing and commercializing innovative inhaled therapies, based on its proprietary dry powder inhaler Cyclops®. The focus is on the treatment of systemic and respiratory diseases with significant unmet medical needs. The company’s management team consists of seasoned life sciences executives who bring long-lasting and complementary experience in leading drug development, addressing applicable scientific issues and pursuing commercial and business development & licensing opportunities. PureIMS’s lead candidates – Colistin Cyclops® for pulmonary Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections and Levodopa Cyclops® as rescue therapy for OFF episodes in Parkinson’s disease – qualify for abbreviated regulatory routes. Moreover, Colistin Cyclops® is already marketed and reimbursed as a magistral or extemporaneously produced product in the Netherlands for cystic fibrosis (CF), non-CF bronchiectasis (NCFB) patients whom were not able to use authorized alternatives (e.g. due to a high treatment burden and consequentially low adherence or tolerability issues). This proves the superior tolerability and convenience of use compared to competitor products. To date, over 100k doses of Colistin Cyclops® have been prescribed this way. Other clinical programs – including Epinephrine Cyclops® for (food) allergy and impending anaphylaxis – are being explored in an early clinical stage. PureIMS also supports pharma/biotech partners, applying the Cyclops®-based inhalation route for their drug of choice.

Mission and vision

Fulfilling unmet medical needs in the treatment of systemic and respiratory diseases by combining affordability, simplicity, and effective pulmonary delivery. This is to broaden access to therapies that are lifesaving or significantly reducing treatment burden.

our team

Jaap Wieling

PhD, Chief Executive Officer

Dr. Wieling brings 30 years of experience as an executive and entrepreneur in (bio)pharmaceutical research and development (TNO, DSM, PRA/ICON, Xendo, QPS and BiosanaPharma). He is a seasoned expert in building effective and efficient product and platform development businesses and serves on the board and advisory committee of various (bio)pharmaceutical companies and (biopharmaceutical) service industries. For many years he has been invited university lecturer on pharmaceutical product development. He holds a BSc degree in chemistry, an MSc degree in pharmacology and a PhD degree in Mathematics and Natural Sciences from Groningen University, The Netherlands.

Floris Grasmeijer

PhD, Principal Scientist

Floris Grasmeijer is a pharmacist and is responsible for formulation and device development in his role as Principal Scientist at PureIMS. He performed a PhD in inhalation technology at the University of Groningen, after which he there continued his studies as a post-doctoral researcher. Besides his expertise in formulations and devices, Floris also has experience with the preparation of clinical trials. Floris is involved with PureIMS from the start: “It is very motivating to put theory to practice; to take the knowledge about powders and inhalers and use it to quickly pinpoint and solve problems as they arise and to develop products that actually make a difference to patients.”

Marcel Hoppentocht

PhD, Head of Program Management

Marcel Hoppentocht is a pharmacist and in view of his broad interest and organizational capacities his role as Head of Program Management suits him well. He performed a PhD in inhalation technology at the University of Groningen, during which the Cyclops® DPI was developed and a first clinical trial with Cyclops® was conducted. He continued as a post-doctoral researcher for two years during which he was Project Leader of formulation and inhaler development within the Innovative Medicines Initiative (IMI) iABC project dedicated to developing inhaled antibiotics. Marcel is involved with PureIMS from the start: “Making Cyclops® available to many patients and improving their quality of life, would be a dream come true.

Wouter Dijkstra

Head of Production

Wouter Dijkstra is a pharmacist and responsible for production in his role as Head of Production at PureIMS. He studied pharmacy at the University of Groningen, after which he has worked for several pharmaceutical companies in different roles. Wouter has experience with manufacturing and release of Investigational Medicinal Products and compounded products. Wouter is involved with PureIMS since 2019: “It is a privilege to support the development of an amazingly innovative Dry Powder Inhaler and make a change for patients in need.” 

Roelof Kuper

Senior Technician

Roelof Kuper is a biotechnologist and works on the further development of PureIMS’s inhalation platform, Cyclops®. Roelof obtained a BSc in Biotechnology and a MSc in Molecular Life Science. Before joining PureIMS in March 2023 he has worked for different biotech companies where he was responsible for the development and implementation of various processes and new technologies in early and late-stage drug development programs. His strong research background, including topics in molecular biology, genetics and protein engineering are a valuable addition to the team.  “The opportunity to further develop Cyclops® to improve patient care and maximize quality of life is a great thing to do”.

Sebastian Klamer

QA Pharmacist

Sebastian Klamer is an experienced pharmacist with a decade of expertise in Quality Assurance, R&D, Regulatory Affairs, and Product Release. He is passionate about developing pharmaceutical products that enhance patient health while ensuring their safety and user-friendliness. The opportunity to contribute to the advancement of healthcare through these innovations genuinely excites him.

Karlijn Lugtenborg

Logistics & Operations Coordinator

Karlijn is a Logistics and Operations Coordinator at PureIMS, focusing on coordinating operational processes and ensuring that workflows run efficiently across the organization. She is involved in planning, monitoring, and optimizing logistics to support timely and reliable execution of projects. Her structured working style and problem-solving mindset enable her to quickly adapt to changing priorities and maintain oversight in a dynamic environment. Karlijn’s commitment to continuous improvement and teamwork makes her a valuable link between different departments. “Contributing to a well-organized operation that supports innovation in healthcare is what drives me every day.”

Ayla Middel

Logistics & Operations Coordinator

Ayla works as a Logistics and Operations Coordinator and is responsible for coordinating and optimizing daily operational activities within the organization. She ensures that processes run smoothly and that workflows are efficiently aligned. With her structured approach and strong organizational skills, Ayla supports effective collaboration between teams and continuously looks for ways to improve internal processes. Her proactive mindset and attention to detail make her a valuable member of the team. “I enjoy improving processes and making sure everything runs smoothly, especially when it contributes to an efficient and positive working environment.”

Marjan Schepers

Finance Manager

Renée Bouw

Pharmaceutical Production Operator

Renée works as a Pharmaceutical Production Operator and is responsible for executing and monitoring production processes within a pharmaceutical environment. She works in accordance with strict quality and safety guidelines to ensure that products meet the highest standards. With her precision and dedication, Renée contributes to a consistent and reliable production process. Her practical knowledge of manufacturing operations and strong focus on quality make her an important asset to the production team. “Working in an environment where quality and precision are essential motivates me to deliver the best possible results every day.”

Collaborations

University of Groningen

University Medical Center Groningen (UMCG)

Beatrix Children's Hospital (part of UMCG)

Punt voor Parkinson

Martini Hospital Groningen

Interventional Medical Device Solutions

eLabNext

Harro Höfliger Verpackungsmaschinen GmbH

Europees Fonds voor regionale ontwikkeling

Samenwerkingsverband Noord-Nederland