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Quench Bio develops medicines through targeting gasdermin proteins, which are central to innate immunity. The company's core approach involves leveraging new biological insights into gasdermin pathways to discover inhibitors, aiming to create first-in-class therapies for inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. This strategy focuses on modulating immune responses at a fundamental level.
The company was co-founded in 2018 by venture creation firms Atlas Venture and Arix Bioscience plc. Scientific co-founders included Mark Tebbe, Ph.D., serving as Chief Technology Officer, and Mike Nolan, Ph.D., as Head of Biology. They were joined by prominent researchers Arturo Zychlinsky and Herbert Waldmann from the Max Planck Society, with the foundational insight stemming from their pioneering research into gasdermin biology.
Quench Bio's mission was to translate this advanced understanding into therapeutic solutions for patients affected by severe inflammatory and autoimmune conditions. The company envisioned bringing forward novel drug candidates that could fulfill significant unmet medical needs, thereby improving treatment options for complex diseases that currently lack effective long-term management.
Quench Bio has raised $50.0M across 1 funding round.
Quench Bio has raised $50.0M in total across 1 funding round.
Quench Bio has raised $50.0M in total across 1 funding round.
Quench Bio's investors include Joshua Resnick, Atlas Venture, Bessemer Venture Partners, Brandon Capital Partners, Bullpen Capital, Creacion Ventures, Nick Green, Adam Houghton, Jonathan Tobin.
Quench Bio is a biotechnology company developing first-in-class inhibitors targeting Gasdermin D, a key protein in innate immunity pathways like pyroptosis and NETosis, to treat severe inflammatory diseases such as lupus and rare autoimmune conditions.[1][2][3] Founded in 2018 and launched publicly in 2020 with $50 million in Series A funding from investors including Atlas Venture, Arix Bioscience, RA Capital, and AbbVie Ventures, it serves patients with high unmet needs in inflammation by blocking the release of inflammatory cytokines, alarmins, DNA, and NETs.[2] The small team (1-10 employees) of experienced drug developers focuses on small molecule discovery in pharma, showing early momentum through recognition as one of Fierce Biotech's "Fierce 15" companies of 2020.[1][2][6]
Quench Bio was founded in 2018 by Atlas Venture, Arix Bioscience, and scientists Mark Tebbe, Ph.D. (Chief Technology Officer), Mike Nolan, Ph.D. (Head of Biology), in collaboration with Arturo Zychlinsky and Herbert Waldmann from the Max Planck Institute, stemming from work at the Lead Discovery Center on NETosis and gasdermin inhibitors.[2] The idea emerged from new insights into gasdermin biology, identifying Gasdermin D as a "central node" in inflammatory cell death pathways.[1][2] It operated in stealth until January 2020, when it emerged with $50M Series A financing to advance its lead programs, marking a pivotal shift from discovery to clinical development.[2][5]
Quench Bio rides the wave of advancing innate immunity research, particularly gasdermin biology, amid rising focus on precision therapies for inflammatory diseases like lupus and rare conditions, where traditional immunosuppressants often fail.[2][5] Timing is ideal post-2018 discoveries of gasdermin's role, fueled by market forces like growing autoimmune prevalence and investor interest in novel modalities beyond cytokines or JAK inhibitors.[1][2] It influences the ecosystem by validating gasdermin as a druggable target, potentially inspiring follow-on therapies and collaborations with institutes like Max Planck.[2][4]
Quench Bio is poised to advance its Gasdermin D inhibitors into clinical trials, targeting proof-of-concept in inflammatory diseases with high unmet need.[2] Trends like AI-driven target discovery and combo therapies with existing immunomodulators will shape its path, while Series A momentum positions it for follow-on funding amid biotech's inflammation focus.[2][5] Its influence may grow by establishing gasdermin modulation as a new pillar in innate immunity, transforming treatments from symptomatic relief to disease-modifying options—building on its strong scientific foundation and investor backing.[1][2]
Quench Bio has raised $50.0M across 1 funding round. Most recently, it raised $50.0M Series A in January 2020.
| Date | Round | Lead Investors | Other Investors | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 1, 2020 | $50M Series A | Joshua Resnick | Atlas Venture, Bessemer Venture Partners, Brandon Capital Partners, Bullpen Capital, Creacion Ventures, Nick Green, Adam Houghton, Jonathan Tobin | Announced |
