Quark Biotech

Quark Pharmaceuticals (formerly Quark Biotech) was a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company that pioneered the development of RNA interference (RNAi)-based therapeutics. Founded in 1993, the company utilized its proprietary BiFAR platform to identify novel therapeutic targets and develop small interfering RNA (siRNA) candidates for serious conditions, particularly in the fields of nephrology and ophthalmology. Its most advanced programs included teprasiran (QPI-1002) for acute kidney injury and cosdosiran (QPI-1007) for optic neuropathy, both of which reached Phase 3 clinical trials. Despite establishing high-profile collaborations with industry leaders such as Pfizer and Novartis, the company faced significant clinical trial failures and officially ceased operations in October 2021.