Quellis Biosciences

About Quellis Biosciences

Quellis Biosciences was a biopharmaceutical firm focused on discovering and developing novel antibody-based molecules for serious rare diseases. Founded in 2017 by Jonathan Violin, Ph.D., and Vahe Bedian, Ph.D., the Boston-based company operated with a model centered on patient focus, data-driven research, and capital efficiency.

The company's formation was initiated by the biopharma incubator Viridian LLC, with initial seed financing from Xontogeny LLC. A significant milestone was achieved in December 2019 when Quellis emerged from stealth operations, securing $17 million in a Series A financing round led by the Perceptive Xontogeny Venture Fund (PXV Fund). This funding was aimed at advancing its pipeline of novel monoclonal antibodies. The company's lead program, QLS-215, was a humanized monoclonal antibody targeting plasma kallikrein, designed as a potential best-in-class treatment for Hereditary Angioedema (HAE), a rare and potentially life-threatening genetic disorder. To enhance its therapies, Quellis licensed Xencor's Xtend Fc technology, a clinically validated platform that improves an antibody's half-life, thereby reducing the required frequency and dosage for patients.

In a strategic move to advance its lead asset, Quellis Biosciences was acquired by Catabasis Pharmaceuticals (now Astria Therapeutics) in January 2021. The acquisition was a stock-for-stock transaction and was concurrent with a $110 million private placement financing to fund the continued development of QLS-215, including IND-enabling studies and multiple clinical trial phases. The acquisition marked the successful culmination of Quellis's strategy to develop a promising therapeutic candidate for a rare disease and transition it to a clinical-stage company for further development.