Core Viewpoint - Salarius Pharmaceuticals and Decoy Therapeutics are merging to create a new company focused on developing peptide conjugate therapeutics for respiratory viruses and cancer, leveraging Decoy's IMPACT™ platform and non-dilutive funding of approximately $7 million [1][2][10]. Company Overview - Salarius Pharmaceuticals is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company with a focus on cancer therapies, including seclidemstat and SP-3164 [13]. - Decoy Therapeutics is a preclinical-stage biotechnology company utilizing machine learning and AI to design peptide conjugate drug candidates targeting unmet medical needs in respiratory viruses and GI cancers [12]. Merger Details - The merger will result in Decoy investors owning approximately 86% and Salarius stockholders owning about 14% of the combined company, subject to adjustments [10]. - The newly formed company will be named Decoy Therapeutics and will be led by Decoy's executive team [4][10]. Product Pipeline - Decoy's pipeline includes a pan-coronavirus antiviral and other broad-acting antivirals targeting flu, COVID-19, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), as well as peptide drug conjugates for GI cancers [8]. - The merger is expected to facilitate the rapid development of Decoy's peptide conjugate therapeutics, addressing significant unmet needs in respiratory infectious diseases and oncology [2][8]. Leadership and Management - The combined company will be led by Decoy's co-founders and key executives, with a Board of Directors comprising members from both companies [4][10]. - Rick Pierce, with over 25 years of experience in life sciences and investment banking, will serve as CEO [5][6]. Upcoming Milestones - Decoy plans to file an Investigational New Drug (IND) application with the FDA for its lead asset within the next 12 months [8]. - Data from ongoing clinical trials at MD Anderson Cancer Center for seclidemstat will also be reported during this period [9].
Salarius Pharmaceuticals and Decoy Therapeutics Announce Definitive Merger Agreement