Quince Therapeutics, a biotechnology company focused on acquiring, developing, and commercializing innovative therapeutics, has entered into an agreement to acquire EryDel SpA, a privately-held, late-stage biotech company, in a stock-for-stock upfront exchange and potential downstream milestone cash payments.
EryDel has developed an autologous intracellular drug encapsulation (AIDE) technology and a Phase 3 lead asset, EryDex, targeting a rare fatal pediatric neurological disease, Ataxia-Telangiectasia (A-T), which currently has no approved treatments.
Upon completion of the transaction, EryDel stockholders will own approximately 16.7% of the combined company (subject to downward adjustment) and will be entitled to up to $485 million upon the achievement of development, regulatory, and commercial milestone payments, with no royalties. The transaction, which has been unanimously approved by the Boards of Directors of both companies, is subject to certain regulatory approvals and other closing conditions and is expected to close in the third quarter of 2023.
Dirk Thye, M.D., Quince’s Chief Executive Officer, said: “We are highly enthusiastic and optimistic about our acquisition of this unique drug/device combination technology platform and promising late-stage clinical asset to drive Quince’s next stage of growth.
“EryDel’s proprietary AIDE technology enables the autologous intracellular encapsulation and delivery of dexamethasone in a controlled, slow-release manner that has the potential to allow chronic administration of steroids over many months or years with a favorable safety profile.
“This represents a tremendous opportunity to target not only A-T, but also the potential to expand into several debilitating rare diseases where chronic steroid treatment is the standard of care – or could be in the absence of long-term steroid toxicity.
“Upon the close of the acquisition, we will quickly focus our considerable development expertise and financial resources toward advancing the lead asset EryDex for A-T through a single global Phase 3 clinical trial under a SPA already in place with the FDA to an anticipated NDA submission, assuming positive study results.”
Luca Benatti, EryDel’s Chief Executive Officer, said: “EryDel’s acquisition by Quince offers the opportunity to advance our innovative, point-of-care autologous intracellular encapsulation technology through development to commercialization and to fulfill our mission to provide the first treatment for patients living with the devastating disease of A-T.
“Quince’s effort will be supported by the encouraging Phase 3 data generated from EryDel’s prior international study of EryDex, which demonstrated a significant delay in disease progression in A-T patients and further supported more than 10 years of safety data. Quince is well-positioned to advance EryDel’s differentiated AIDE technology and development of our lead asset EryDex to deliver innovative treatments to patients in need.”
