Q32 Bio Inc. (NASDAQ: QTTB), a clinical stage biotechnology company focused on developing biologic therapeutics to restore immune homeostasis, today announced the completion of its previously announced merger with Homology Medicines, Inc. The combined company will operate under the name Q32 Bio, and its shares are expected to begin trading on the Nasdaq Global Market on March 26, 2024, under the ticker symbol “QTTB”.
Concurrent with the closing of the merger, Q32 Bio completed a $42 million private placement with a syndicate of existing and new investors including OrbiMed, Atlas Venture, Abingworth, Bristol Myers Squibb, Acorn Bioventures, Osage University Partners, CU Healthcare Innovation Fund, Sanofi Ventures, Agent Capital and other undisclosed investors. Following the transactions, Q32 Bio’s cash, cash equivalents and investments of approximately $130 million, before payment of final transaction-related expenses, are expected to fund operations through mid-2026.
“It’s an exciting time to be transitioning into a publicly traded company as we prepare to complete and release results from two bempikibart placebo-controlled Phase 2 trials later this year and initiate the first Phase 2 trial for our lead tissue-targeted complement inhibitor ADX-097, and prepare to initiate a second ADX-097 trial in early 2025 with topline results expected for both by year-end 2025,” said Jodie Morrison, Chief Executive Officer of Q32 Bio. “With a solid financial foundation and investor syndicate, a world-class leadership team, and near-term data readouts in autoimmune and inflammatory diseases with significant unmet needs, we believe we are strongly positioned to enter the public markets, setting the stage for multiple potential opportunities for meaningful value creation. We are thrilled to be completing this transformative transaction that propels Q32 into its next stage of growth.”
Bempikibart, Q32 Bio’s most advanced product candidate, is a fully human anti-IL-7Rα antibody designed to re-regulate adaptive immune function by blocking signaling mediated by both IL-7 and TSLP and is currently being evaluated in two double-blind, placebo-controlled Phase 2 trials evaluating the use in AD and AA. Q32 Bio remains on track to report topline Phase 2 results from both trials in the second half of 2024.
ADX-097 is based on a novel platform enabling tissue-targeted regulation of the complement system without long-term systemic blockade, a key differentiator from current complement therapeutics. Q32 Bio has completed a first-in-human, Phase 1 ascending dose clinical trial of ADX-097 in healthy volunteers. Results from the Phase 1 trial demonstrated a favorable tolerability and immunogenicity profile across all single and multiple dose cohorts and weekly subcutaneous dosing met exposures for predicted complete complement inhibition in the tissue with no systemic inhibition. Q32 Bio is currently initiating an open-label Phase 2 renal basket trial and will initiate a Phase 2 trial in ANCA-Associated Vasculitis (AAV) in the first half of 2025. Results from both trials are expected in the second half of 2025.
Transaction Details
In connection with the closing of the merger, Homology enacted a 1-for-18 reverse stock split of its common stock and issued a non-transferable contingent value right (a “CVR”) to Homology shareholders of record as of March 21, 2024, which does not include the former holders of shares of Q32 Bio or the private placement investors. Holders of the CVR will be entitled to receive certain cash payments from proceeds received by the Company, if any, related to the dispositions of Homology’s pre-transaction legacy assets. Following the reverse stock split and based on the final exchange ratio of 0.8676 shares of Homology common stock for each share of Q32 Bio common stock, at the closing of the merger there are approximately 11,963,142 shares of the combined company’s common stock outstanding, with prior Homology stockholders owning approximately 25.6% and prior Q32 Bio stockholders (including investors in the private placement) holding approximately 74.4% of the combined company’s outstanding common stock.
Leerink Partners served as the exclusive financial advisor to Q32 Bio. Leerink Partners, Piper Sandler, Guggenheim Securities, and Oppenheimer & Co. served as placement agents for Q32 Bio’s private placement. Goodwin Procter LLP is serving as legal counsel to Q32 Bio. TD Cowen served as the exclusive financial advisor and Latham & Watkins LLP served as legal counsel to Homology.
About Q32 Bio
Q32 Bio is a clinical stage biotechnology company developing biologic therapeutics targeting potent regulators of the innate and adaptive immune systems to re-balance immunity in autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. Q32 Bio’s lead programs, focused on the IL-7 / TSLP receptor pathways and complement system, address immune dysregulation to help patients take back control of their lives.
Q32 Bio’s program for adaptive immunity, bempikibart (ADX-914), is a fully human anti-IL-7Rα antibody that re-regulates adaptive immune function for the treatment of autoimmune diseases. It is being evaluated in two Phase 2 trials for the treatment of atopic dermatitis and alopecia areata. The IL-7 and TSLP pathways have been genetically and biologically implicated in driving several T cell-mediated pathological processes in numerous autoimmune diseases. Q32 Bio’s program for innate immunity, ADX-097, is based on a novel platform enabling tissue-targeted regulation of the complement system without long-term systemic blockade – a key differentiator versus current complement therapeutics. Q32 Bio has completed a first-in-human, Phase 1 ascending dose clinical study of ADX-097 in healthy volunteers.
For more information, visit www.Q32Bio.com.
