Quince Therapeutics has appointed Dr. Hassan Abolhassani, a leading immunologist from the Karolinska Institutet, to its Scientific Advisory Board as the company advances its lead asset eDSP through a pivotal Phase 3 clinical trial for Ataxia-Telangiectasia (A-T). The appointment positions the late-stage biotechnology company to leverage specialized expertise as it prepares to report topline results in the first quarter of 2026.
Dr. Abolhassani becomes the ninth member of Quince's Scientific Advisory Board, joining experts across multiple disciplines including A-T, biochemistry, neurology, immunology, genetics, hematology, pharmacology, and clinical practice. His appointment comes at a critical juncture as the company evaluates its potentially breakthrough corticosteroid delivery platform.
Expert Credentials in Rare Disease Research
Dr. Abolhassani serves as Assistant Professor of Clinical Immunology and Research Specialists in the Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics at the Karolinska Institutet in Stockholm, Sweden. He leads pediatric primary immunodeficiency (PID) and inborn errors of immunity (IEI) research in Professor Qiang Pan Hammarström's laboratory.
His translational clinical research focuses on investigating the pathogenesis of primary antibody deficiency and immune pathways, helping physicians and immunologists understand genes with unknown functions and guide therapeutic approaches for patients. Additionally, his work encompasses multidisciplinary and translational approaches for diagnosis and treatment of Ataxia-Telangiectasia.
Dr. Abolhassani's scientific impact is reflected in his recognition as one of the top 1% of highly cited scientific researchers in immunology according to Essential Science Indicators and among the world's top 2% widely cited scientists by Scopus/Elsevier. His accolades include the Isil Berat Barlan Award in primary immunodeficiency diseases, the Anna-Greta Crafoords Prize for rheumatologic research, the USERN Prize in medical sciences, the Jonas Söderquist Award in virology and immunology, and the Razi Festival Award in medical sciences.
Strategic Timing for Clinical Development
"Quince is excited to welcome leading immunologist and researcher Dr. Abolhassani as a new member of our SAB," said Dr. Mauro Magnani, Chair of Quince's Scientific Advisory Board. "Given his notable work in immunodeficiency disorders, as well as the rare pediatric neurodegenerative disease Ataxia-Telangiectasia, we expect to benefit from his unique insight and expertise as the SAB continues to support Quince as the company advances its potentially breakthrough ability to deliver corticosteroid treatment without toxicities with its lead asset eDSP."
Dr. Abolhassani expressed enthusiasm about joining the advisory board at this pivotal moment. "It is an honor to join Quince's SAB at this exciting time as the company prepares to report topline results in the first quarter of 2026 evaluating the company's lead asset, eDSP, for the treatment of patients with A-T," he said. "I look forward to collaborating with the distinguished members of Quince's management team, Board of Directors, and Scientific Advisory Board to support the advancement of eDSP for the treatment of not only A-T but for additional potential immunological and autoimmune focused rare disease indications."
Expanding Pipeline Beyond Ataxia-Telangiectasia
The Scientific Advisory Board provides expert insight and advice to support the advancement of eDSP for A-T treatment, for which a pivotal Phase 3 clinical trial is currently underway. The board also serves as a valuable resource as Quince strategically expands its development pipeline by pursuing other potential rare disease indications beyond A-T and Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) for eDSP.
The company has identified a prioritized list of 11 additional rare disease targets under consideration where chronic corticosteroid treatment is or has the potential to become a standard of care, if not for corticosteroid-related safety concerns. These include autoimmune hepatitis, pulmonary sarcoidosis, dermatomyositis, pemphigus vulgaris, Hashimoto's encephalopathy, Becker muscular dystrophy, pediatric lupus, juvenile idiopathic arthritis, myasthenia gravis, limb-girdle muscular dystrophy, and chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy.
Leadership in Global Immunodeficiency Research
Dr. Abolhassani's international leadership extends beyond his research contributions. He serves as president of the Middle East and North Africa Registry on Inborn Errors of Immunity, one of the largest PID/IEI cohorts worldwide, and is a steering member of the J Project, a professional network of experts on PID/IEI. He also collaborates as a distinguished clinical immunologist with the Global Burden of Disease study led by the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation at the University of Washington, Seattle.
His educational background includes an M.D. from Tehran University of Medical Sciences, where he also completed an internship for immune disorders at the Research Center for Immunodeficiencies. He earned a Ph.D. in clinical immunology and immunogenetics of chronic infectious and inflammatory disease from the Karolinska Institutet, where he also completed his postdoctoral fellowship in single-cell multi-omics. Additional qualifications include a Master of Public Health and Master of Philosophy from Tehran University of Medical Sciences.
