Stuart Therapeutics Appoints David Jakeman as Chief Financial Officer to Support Late-Stage Development and Commercialization Plans
Stuart Therapeutics, Inc., a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing first-in-class collagen-reparative therapeutics for ophthalmic diseases, has announced the appointment of David Jakeman as its new chief financial officer (CFO). The leadership appointment comes at an important stage in the company’s development as Stuart prepares to advance its lead therapeutic candidate, ST-100, for dry eye disease through the completion of its pending Phase 3b clinical trial and toward potential commercialization.
As CFO, Jakeman will oversee Stuart Therapeutics’ finance and accounting functions while supporting the company’s broader corporate and strategic objectives. His responsibilities will include strengthening financial operations, supporting capital planning, and helping the company prepare for the operational requirements associated with late-stage clinical development and, potentially, the commercialization of its ophthalmic therapeutics.
Stuart Therapeutics is developing a pipeline based on its collagen-reparative therapeutic approach, which is designed to address diseases and conditions involving damage or dysfunction of ocular tissues. The company’s programs are focused on significant unmet needs in eye health, including dry eye disease, corneal wound healing, and retinal disorders.
The appointment of Jakeman reflects Stuart’s transition toward a more advanced stage of development. With ST-100 progressing through late-stage clinical development, the company is increasingly focused not only on clinical execution but also on the financial, operational, and organizational capabilities needed to support future regulatory and commercial milestones.
Experienced Biopharmaceutical Finance Leader Joins Stuart Therapeutics
Jakeman brings more than 16 years of experience in the biopharmaceutical industry to Stuart Therapeutics. Before joining the company, he spent more than a decade and a half at Chimerix, Inc., a Durham, North Carolina-based biopharmaceutical company that developed therapies for patients with rare and aggressive brain tumors.
During his tenure at Chimerix, Jakeman held positions of increasing responsibility and ultimately served as vice president of finance and accounting. His experience included helping establish and expand the financial infrastructure required to support a biopharmaceutical company through multiple stages of development.
One of the significant accomplishments of Jakeman’s career at Chimerix was his involvement in building financial capabilities that supported the company as it progressed from early-stage development into a more mature organization. During that period, Chimerix raised more than $600 million in capital, providing financial resources to support the development and advancement of its therapeutic programs.
Jakeman’s experience at Chimerix also included helping the company navigate a major corporate transaction. In 2025, Chimerix was acquired by Jazz Pharmaceuticals in an all-cash transaction valued at approximately $935 million. The transaction represented a significant milestone for Chimerix and provided Jakeman with experience in the financial and organizational requirements associated with a large-scale biopharmaceutical acquisition.
That combination of experience in financial infrastructure, capital raising, corporate development, and strategic financial management is expected to be valuable to Stuart Therapeutics as the company moves toward its next phase of growth.
Supporting ST-100 and Stuart’s Ophthalmology Pipeline
Stuart Therapeutics’ lead candidate, ST-100, is being developed for the treatment of dry eye disease. The company is currently working toward completion of a pending Phase 3b clinical trial, representing an important stage in the development program.
Dry eye disease is a common ophthalmic condition that can cause discomfort, irritation, burning, fluctuating vision, and other symptoms that can interfere with daily activities and quality of life. Although a range of treatments is available, patients can experience persistent symptoms and may require additional therapeutic options.
Stuart’s approach is centered on collagen repair and the potential role of restoring or supporting the structural integrity of ocular tissues. The company is pursuing this approach across multiple areas of ophthalmology, including dry eye disease, corneal wound healing, and retinal conditions.
As ST-100 progresses through late-stage development, Stuart will need to coordinate clinical, regulatory, manufacturing, financial, and commercial activities. The appointment of a CFO with extensive experience supporting biopharmaceutical development is intended to strengthen the company’s ability to manage these requirements.
CEO Highlights Jakeman’s Industry Experience
Eric Schlumpf, president and CEO of Stuart Therapeutics, emphasized the importance of Jakeman’s background as the company continues to advance its therapeutic programs.
According to Schlumpf, Jakeman has spent his career providing financial leadership in the development of therapies intended to address serious diseases where patients have limited or no treatment options. His experience is expected to contribute to Stuart’s efforts to advance its ophthalmology pipeline while maintaining strong financial and operational foundations.
Schlumpf also highlighted the potential importance of Jakeman’s expertise as Stuart works to advance treatments for dry eye disease, corneal wound healing, and retinal disorders.
The company believes that experienced financial leadership will be increasingly important as its development programs move closer to potential regulatory approval and commercialization. A CFO at this stage can play a central role in managing financial resources, evaluating investment priorities, supporting corporate strategy, and preparing the organization for potential commercial operations.
Jakeman Welcomes Opportunity to Join Stuart
Jakeman said he is pleased to join Stuart Therapeutics at what he described as a pivotal point in the company’s development. He noted that Stuart has progressed into a more mature phase in which experienced financial and operational capabilities will be important for completing development activities and preparing for potential commercialization.
His priorities will include helping the company navigate the continued advancement of its pipeline and supporting the infrastructure needed as Stuart moves closer to potential market entry.
For Stuart, the addition of Jakeman also brings experience from a company that successfully progressed through multiple stages of biopharmaceutical development and ultimately completed a major acquisition. His background may help Stuart address the financial and strategic considerations associated with moving a clinical-stage organization toward commercialization.
Strong Academic and Accounting Background
Jakeman began his professional career at Ernst & Young LLP, where he worked in auditing and gained experience with high-growth public and private companies. His early career provided a foundation in financial reporting, accounting, auditing, and corporate financial management before he transitioned into the biopharmaceutical sector.
He earned a Master of Accounting and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, with distinction, from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s Kenan-Flagler Business School. He is also a Certified Public Accountant and a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.
His combination of accounting credentials, corporate finance experience, and extensive biopharmaceutical industry exposure positions him to support Stuart’s financial and operational activities during a period of significant development.
A Strategic Leadership Addition for Stuart Therapeutics
The appointment represents another step in Stuart Therapeutics’ efforts to strengthen its leadership team as it advances toward potential commercialization. The company’s immediate focus remains the continued development of ST-100 for dry eye disease, including completion of the pending Phase 3b clinical trial.
Beyond ST-100, Stuart is developing collagen-reparative therapeutic approaches for additional ophthalmic applications. The company’s broader pipeline includes programs addressing corneal wound healing and retinal conditions, creating opportunities to expand its platform into multiple areas of eye disease.
With Jakeman now leading finance and accounting, Stuart expects to benefit from additional expertise as it manages the financial demands of late-stage clinical development and evaluates the requirements associated with future commercialization.
The appointment comes at a critical juncture for the company. Successfully transitioning a biopharmaceutical candidate from clinical development toward commercialization requires substantial planning across numerous areas, including regulatory strategy, manufacturing, market preparation, financial management, and organizational expansion. Experienced financial leadership can help ensure that these activities are aligned with the company’s available resources and long-term strategic priorities.
As Stuart Therapeutics continues to progress ST-100 and develop its broader collagen-reparative pipeline, Jakeman’s experience is expected to contribute to the company’s efforts to build a sustainable financial and operational foundation. His appointment underscores Stuart’s focus on preparing the organization for the next stage of growth while pursuing potential new treatment options for patients affected by dry eye disease, corneal injuries, and retinal disorders.
About Stuart Therapeutics, Inc.
Stuart Therapeutics, Inc. is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing a new class of therapeutics targeting collagen in the extracellular matrix of the eye, a target previously beyond the reach of conventional therapies. Stuart’s therapeutic pipeline is based on its proprietary PolyCol™ Collagen Mimetic Peptide (CMP) technology platform, composed of more than 400 CMP sequences applicable across a wide range of ophthalmic indications, including dry eye disease, corneal wound healing, glaucoma, myopia and retinal diseases such as retinitis pigmentosa.
Its lead asset, ST-100, is a novel collagen-reparative therapeutic designed to restore homeostatic function on the ocular surface, thereby alleviating the effects of dry eye disease. ST-100’s Phase 3b trial is planned for the first quarter of 2027. For more information, visit www.StuartTherapeutics.com.