Pharma BD Deal Intelligence

Quince Therapeutics, Inc. / Orphai Therapeutics Inc.

2026 · Acquisition/Merger · Complete

A bargain-priced pipeline add: Quince picked up Orphai's inhaled rapamycin asset LAM-001 alongside a $187 million private placement led by Balyasny, backed by Phase 2a data showing a 67.4-meter 6MWD gain, though the Phase 2b PH-ILD readout is still years out.

Outcome grade pending — assessed 5 years post-close.

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The coverage arc

May 18, 2026 globenewswire.com Neutral

Data from Phase 2a study of LAM-001 on top of standard of care in PH-ILD patients with refractory PH demonstrated clinically meaningful improvement in multiple…

May 18, 2026 quincetx.com Neutral

Quince entered into a definitive agreement for a private placement financing to raise up to $187 million in gross proceeds, which includes $115 million in…

May 18, 2026 stocktitan.net Neutral

Quince Therapeutics (QNCX) acquires Orphai and secures up to $187M PIPE. The Series C non-voting convertible preferred plus warrant structure preserves…

Source summaries from our enrichment pipeline; follow links for originals.

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Quince Therapeutics acquired Orphai Therapeutics, a clinical-stage biotech, bringing in lead asset LAM-001 (inhaled rapamycin) for rare pulmonary diseases including PH-ILD and bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome. Concurrent private placement of up to $187 million ($115M upfront plus up to $72M warrants) led by Balyasny Asset Management.

Key facts

Disease & market context

Pulmonary hypertension associated with interstitial lung disease (PH-ILD)

60K US cases/yr · $1.5B Estimated US PH-ILD inhaled-treprostinil market (Tyvaso/Yutrepia franchise proxy)

Disease Overview

PH-ILD is a WHO Group 3 pulmonary hypertension subtype characterized by elevated pulmonary vascular resistance secondary to chronic interstitial lung disease (IPF, NSIP, CHP, sarcoidosis-associated ILD). It is associated with markedly worse functional capacity and survival versus ILD alone. Inhaled treprostinil (Tyvaso/Yutrepia) is the only FDA-approved class, leaving substantial unmet need for novel mechanisms.

Competitive Landscape

PH-ILD's only approved class is inhaled treprostinil (United Therapeutics' Tyvaso/Tyvaso DPI and Liquidia's YUTREPIA). Pipeline competitors include Merck/Acceleron's sotatercept (FDA-approved in PAH, Phase 3 in PH-ILD), Aerovate's inhaled imatinib, and other prostacyclin pathway agents. LAM-001's mTOR mechanism is mechanistically novel and could be additive on top of inhaled prostacyclins.

Bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome (BOS) post-lung transplant

8K US cases/yr

Disease Overview

BOS is the leading cause of chronic lung allograft dysfunction and post-transplant mortality, affecting ~50% of recipients within five years. It is characterized by progressive small-airway fibrosis driven by alloimmune injury. No FDA-approved therapy exists; standard of care relies on systemic immunosuppression intensification, with poor outcomes.

Competitive Landscape

BOS has no FDA-approved disease-modifying therapy; current management is empirical immunosuppression intensification (azithromycin, mTOR inhibitor conversion, ECP). Inhaled rapamycin has theoretical advantage of high local lung exposure with reduced systemic toxicity versus oral sirolimus. Direct competitors are minimal; the asset is positioned for a first-in-class label opportunity.

Related deals — scored

DealYearValueOutcome
Quince Therapeutics, Inc. / Orphai Therapeutics Inc. (this deal)2026
Pfizer Inc. / FoldRx Pharmaceuticals201099
Abbott Laboratories / Knoll Pharmaceuticals (BASF Pharma)2000$6.9B95
Astra AB / Zeneca Group plc1998$35.0B94
Merck & Co. Inc. / Acceleron Pharma Inc.2021$11.5B90
Johnson & Johnson / Actelion Ltd2017$30.0B90
Eli Lilly and Company / Boehringer Ingelheim GmbH2011$444M89

Compare all 7 side-by-side →

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