Adrian Quartel
Spruce Biosciences (Nasdaq: SPRB) has appointed Adrian Quartel, M.D., FFPM, as chief medical officer, strengthening its executive leadership as the late-stage biopharmaceutical company advances tralesinidase alfa enzyme replacement therapy (TA-ERT) toward a planned Biologics License Application (BLA) filing in the fourth quarter of 2026
Effective immediately, Quartel will lead the company’s clinical, regulatory and medical strategy as Spruce prepares for the potential commercialization of TA-ERT, its lead investigational therapy for Sanfilippo Syndrome Type B (MPS IIIB), a rare pediatric neurodegenerative disease with no FDA-approved treatments
Chief Executive Officer Javier Szwarcberg, M.D., M.P.H., said Quartel’s experience developing therapies for rare diseases will support the company’s transition from late-stage clinical development toward regulatory submission and potential commercial launch. He noted that Quartel has previously helped bring multiple enzyme replacement therapies to patients with rare genetic disorders and understands the clinical and regulatory requirements associated with those programs
Quartel joins Spruce from Zevra Therapeutics, where he served as chief medical officer and oversaw clinical development, medical affairs and regulatory strategy for the company’s rare disease portfolio. Earlier, he held chief medical officer roles at Acer Therapeutics and Adamas Pharmaceuticals
Prior to those positions, Quartel served as group vice president of Global Medical Affairs at BioMarin Pharmaceutical, where he played a leadership role in launching six therapies for rare diseases and genetic disorders. His work included enzyme replacement therapies NAGLAZYME®, VIMIZIM® and Brineura®, the latter approved for a rare pediatric neurodegenerative disease. Earlier in his career, he held senior clinical development and medical leadership positions at Astellas, Chiltern and ICON Clinical Research.
Quartel earned his medical degree from Erasmus University Medical School in Rotterdam and completed postgraduate training in pharmaceutical medicine through the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Medicine. He is board certified in pharmaceutical medicine by the United Kingdom’s General Medical Council
Commenting on his appointment, Quartel said Spruce is entering an important stage of development as it works to bring TA-ERT to patients with MPS IIIB. He said the therapy has the potential to become the first disease-modifying treatment for the disorder and expressed his commitment to advancing the program through regulatory review and toward commercialization
TA-ERT is a late-stage investigational enzyme replacement therapy being developed for mucopolysaccharidosis type IIIB, also known as Sanfilippo Syndrome Type B. The therapy has received Breakthrough Therapy, Fast Track, Orphan Drug and Rare Pediatric Disease designations from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, along with Orphan Drug Designation in the European Union
In connection with Quartel’s appointment, Spruce granted him restricted stock units covering 13,000 shares of common stock under its 2026 Inducement Plan. The award, approved by the board’s compensation committee in accordance with Nasdaq Listing Rule 5635(c)(4), will vest over four years, subject to his continued employment with the company
Spruce Biosciences is a late-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing and commercializing therapies for neurological disorders with significant unmet medical needs. Its lead program, TA-ERT, is being developed for Sanfilippo Syndrome Type B, a rare pediatric neurodegenerative disease for which no FDA-approved treatment currently exists. The company trades on the Nasdaq under the ticker symbol SPRB
