Quercis Pharma

About Quercis Pharma

Quercis Pharma AG is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company headquartered in Zug, Switzerland, established in late 2019 through the acquisition of pharmaceutical assets from various companies in the US and Europe. The company operates on a model centered around developing and bringing to market treatments for complex diseases that are inadequately addressed by current medicines. A significant financial milestone was achieved in December 2021, when Quercis secured a share subscription facility of up to $150 million from Global Emerging Markets (GEM), an investment intended to support the company's path to a public listing.

The company's core business revolves around its proprietary antithrombotic platform. The lead drug candidate, named Kinisoquin™, is a novel, orally administered formulation designed to inhibit Protein Disulfide Isomerase (PDI), a key enzyme in the process of thrombo-inflammation. This mechanism selectively prevents the formation of blood clots without systemically altering the body's coagulation functions, a key differentiator from traditional anticoagulants that often increase bleeding risks. The primary clinical focus for Kinisoquin™ is the prevention of Venous Thromboembolism (VTE), a life-threatening complication, in high-risk cancer patients, particularly those with pancreatic cancer. The development for this indication is proceeding under a Special Protocol Agreement (SPA) with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, which provides a clear regulatory path for its Phase 3 program.

Beyond its lead program in cancer-associated thrombosis, Quercis is exploring the broader potential of its platform across several other indications. The pipeline includes assets targeting ovarian cancer, Sickle Cell Disease (SCD), Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), and COPD. The company has also established exclusive worldwide license agreements to bolster its development efforts. In January 2021, it licensed two patents from Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, a Harvard Medical School affiliate, related to modulating thrombotic conditions in cancer patients. In May 2021, it signed another agreement with Western New England University to develop and market Zafirlukast, a leukotriene receptor antagonist with potential as an antithrombotic agent.