Quince Therapeutics Rebranded as IRuyla Therapeutics
The company has appointed a new CEO and pivoted its pipeline following a merger and clinical trial failure.
Updated on Oct. 10, 2026 in Healthcare
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Quince Therapeutics has officially rebranded as IRuyla Therapeutics following its merger with Orphai Therapeutics. The San Francisco-based firm also appointed Brigette Roberts as its new CEO as part of a total leadership overhaul.
Why it matters
The corporate restructuring follows the failure of the company’s previous lead drug candidate in January 2026, forcing a shift in development focus. IRuyla now aims to leverage its remaining capital to advance treatments for rare pulmonary conditions.
The company reported a balance sheet of $116 million as of June 30, 2026, bolstered by a $115 million private securities sale. It is now trading under the ticker symbol IRLA.
The players
IRuyla Therapeutics
A San Francisco-based biotechnology company formerly known as Quince Therapeutics that focuses on pulmonary health indications.
Brigette Roberts
The newly appointed CEO of IRuyla Therapeutics tasked with leading the firm through its post-merger strategic pivot.
Dirk Thye
The former CEO and medical chief of Quince Therapeutics who resigned during the company's leadership overhaul.
Brendan Hannah
The former COO, business chief, and compliance officer who resigned following the merger with Orphai Therapeutics.
Orphai Therapeutics
A biotechnology firm that completed an all-stock merger with Quince Therapeutics in May 2026.
The details
Alongside the name change and CEO appointment, the company saw the resignation of former CEO and medical chief Dirk Thye, as well as COO Brendan Hannah. IRuyla now plans to initiate a phase 2 study in sarcoidosis-associated pulmonary hypertension by the end of 2026.
Timeline
January 2026: Previous lead drug candidate failed phase 3 trials.
May 2026: Merger with Orphai Therapeutics was announced.
June 30, 2026: Company balance sheet totaled $116 million.
October 9, 2026: Company officially relaunched as IRuyla Therapeutics.
Market Landscape
This story follows the historical precedent set by the 1999 FDA approval of Rapamycin for organ transplant rejection, as the firm aims to repurpose established pharmacological pathways for new pulmonary indications. The pivot marks a strategic consolidation within the biotech sector as firms shift focus from failed candidates to high-need rare disease markets.
Investors and stakeholders will see a change in ticker symbol to IRLA as the company shifts its primary operational focus. The pivot to new pulmonary disease targets aims to address patient populations currently lacking effective therapeutic options.
The takeaway
The company’s rapid shift from a failed phase 3 trial to a total corporate rebranding highlights the volatility of early-stage biotech development. Investors should watch for the upcoming phase 2 data readouts, which will determine if the new executive team can successfully navigate the transition.
What happens next
IRuyla expects to report data readouts for three phase 2 clinical trials in the first quarter of 2027 and 2028.
Further reading
Learn more about local industry trends in the Healthcare section.
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