Quince Therapeutics Acquires Orphai Therapeutics
Quince Therapeutics announced it has acquired Orphai Therapeutics. The acquisition brings Orphai's program LAM-001, an inhaled formulation of rapamycin, to treat rare pulmonary diseases, into Quince's pipeline. New Phase 2 data with LAM-001 were recently presented at the American Thoracic Society conference in Orlando and are detailed in a separate press release also announced. Concurrent with the acquisition, Quince entered into a definitive agreement for a private placement financing to raise up to $187M in gross proceeds, which includes $115M in upfront proceeds for the purchase of shares of Series C non-voting convertible preferred stock and up to an additional approximately $72M upon exercise of accompanying warrants, before deducting placement agent and other offering expenses. The financing was led by Balyasny Asset Management and includes participation from healthcare investors. Upfront proceeds from the financing together with existing cash and cash equivalents at closing, are expected to support the advancement of LAM-001 through multiple clinical milestones, including data from a Phase 2 clinical trial in BOS anticipated in the first quarter of 2027, data from a planned Phase 2b study in PH-ILD anticipated in the first quarter of 2028 and data from a planned Phase 2 study in sarcoidosis associated PH anticipated in the fourth quarter of 2028.
Trade with 70% Backtested Accuracy
Analyst Views on QNCX
About QNCX
About the author

- Acquisition Overview: Quince Therapeutics announced the acquisition of clinical-stage biotech company Orphai Therapeutics, integrating Orphai's lead program LAM-001 into Quince's pipeline to treat rare pulmonary diseases, thereby enhancing its competitive edge in the biopharmaceutical sector.
- Financing Arrangement: The acquisition is accompanied by a private placement financing agreement expected to raise up to $187 million in gross proceeds, including $115 million in upfront proceeds for purchasing non-voting convertible preferred stock, indicating strong market confidence in the deal.
- Equity Exchange Structure: The acquisition is structured as a stock-for-stock merger, where all outstanding equity interests of Orphai will be exchanged for 3.25 million shares of common stock, 67.1 million shares of non-voting convertible preferred stock, and options for 26.33 million shares of common stock, reflecting Quince's recognition of Orphai's value.
- Future Outlook: The transaction is expected to close on May 21, 2026, with Quince's stock price dropping 3.48% to $1.11 following the announcement; despite short-term volatility, the acquisition is poised to expand Quince's therapeutic areas and increase market share in the long run.
- Clinical Trial Results: In a 24-week Phase 2a study involving 10 PH-ILD patients, the use of LAM-001 resulted in a 67.4-meter improvement in six-minute walk distance (6MWD) and a 33.9% reduction in pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR), demonstrating significant lung function improvement and indicating its potential value in treating refractory pulmonary arterial hypertension patients.
- Functional Improvement: All evaluable patients transitioned from Functional Class III to II by Week 24, with two patients achieving Class I status at 16 and 52 weeks, highlighting LAM-001's significant impact on enhancing patients' daily functioning and quality of life.
- Safety Assessment: LAM-001 was well tolerated against a background of standard therapy, with 6 evaluable patients, 4 of whom were PH-ILD patients, maintaining stable doses of treprostinil throughout the study, indicating its safety as an adjunct therapy.
- Future Development Plans: Quince Therapeutics plans to initiate a Phase 2b trial in mid-2026, with topline data expected in the first quarter of 2028, further validating LAM-001's efficacy in PH-ILD, reflecting the company's ongoing commitment to this field.
- Clinical Trial Results: In a 24-week Phase 2a study involving 10 patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) and pulmonary hypertension associated with interstitial lung disease (PH-ILD), LAM-001 demonstrated a significant improvement in six-minute walk distance (6MWD) by 67.4 meters and a reduction in pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) by 33.9%, indicating its potential as a new treatment option for patients.
- Functional Improvement: All evaluable patients transitioned from Functional Class III to Class II by Week 24, with some even achieving Class I status at 16 and 52 weeks, suggesting LAM-001's potential to enhance daily functioning and significantly improve patients' quality of life.
- Safety Assessment: LAM-001 was generally well tolerated among patients receiving standard care, with 4 out of 6 evaluable patients being PH-ILD cases, indicating its safe use alongside existing therapies and enhancing its appeal as a potential treatment option.
- Future Research Plans: The company plans to initiate a Phase 2b trial in mid-2026, with topline data expected in the first quarter of 2028, further validating LAM-001's efficacy and safety, demonstrating the company's strong commitment to its development.
- Acquisition Overview: Quince Therapeutics has acquired Orphai Therapeutics in a stock-for-stock merger, which includes 3,258,517 shares of common stock and 67,101.235 shares of Series C non-voting convertible preferred stock, expected to enhance Quince's market position in rare pulmonary diseases.
- Financing Support: The acquisition is accompanied by a private placement financing expected to raise up to $187 million, including $115 million in upfront proceeds, which will support multiple clinical milestones for LAM-001 and ensure operational funding through the end of 2028.
- Clinical Trial Plans: The Phase 2 clinical trial for LAM-001 is planned to initiate in mid-2026 targeting pulmonary hypertension associated with interstitial lung disease (PH-ILD), with data anticipated in Q1 2028, showcasing the company's strategic potential in addressing significant unmet medical needs.
- Market Outlook Analysis: LAM-001 targets PH-ILD and bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome (BOS), affecting approximately 86,000 and 17,000 patients in the U.S. and Europe respectively, indicating its market opportunity as a potential disease-modifying therapy, further solidifying Quince's leadership in the industry.
- Clinical Trial Results: In patients with PH-ILD, the 24-week trial of LAM-001 demonstrated a significant improvement in six-minute walk distance (6MWD) by 67.4 meters and a reduction in pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) by 33.9%, indicating the drug's potential to provide new treatment options for patients.
- Patient Transition Outcomes: All evaluable patients transitioned from Functional Class III to Class II by Week 24, with two patients achieving Class I status at 16 and 52 weeks, highlighting LAM-001's potential to enhance daily functioning and improve quality of life for patients.
- Safety and Tolerability: LAM-001 showed good tolerability among patients receiving standard background therapy, with 6 evaluable patients, 4 of whom were PH-ILD patients, maintaining stable doses of treprostinil throughout the study, suggesting the drug's safety profile is noteworthy.
- Future Research Plans: The company plans to initiate a Phase 2b trial in PH-ILD in mid-2026, with topline data expected in the first quarter of 2028, further validating LAM-001's efficacy and demonstrating the company's ongoing commitment to rare pulmonary diseases.
- Acquisition Overview: Quince Therapeutics has acquired Orphai Therapeutics in a stock-for-stock merger, which includes 3,258,517 shares of common stock and 67,101.235 shares of Series C non-voting convertible preferred stock, expected to enhance Quince's competitiveness in the rare pulmonary disease sector.
- Financing Support: The acquisition is accompanied by a private placement financing expected to raise up to $187 million, including $115 million in upfront proceeds, which will support multiple clinical milestones for LAM-001 and ensure operational funding through the end of 2028.
- Clinical Trial Plans: Quince plans to initiate a Phase 2b trial of LAM-001 in PH-ILD in mid-2026, with data anticipated in Q1 2028, while also providing Phase 2 data for BOS in Q1 2027, demonstrating the company's proactive approach in pulmonary disease treatment.
- Market Potential: LAM-001 targets approximately 86,000 patients in the U.S. and 120,000 in Europe suffering from PH-ILD, and Quince's acquisition and subsequent R&D efforts will help address this significant unmet medical need, enhancing patient quality of life.










