Salarius and Decoy Announce Merger in Biopharmaceutical Innovation
Deal News | Jan 13, 2025 | EIN

Salarius Pharmaceuticals and Decoy Therapeutics have announced a definitive merger agreement, creating a combined entity that plans to leverage advanced technologies to further its efforts in developing peptide conjugate therapeutics. This merger, valued at an estimated $7 million from various funding sources, including the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, aims to target respiratory viruses and cancer. As part of the merger strategy, the new entity will integrate Salarius' current therapeutic developments into Decoy's innovative AI and ML-driven drug discovery platforms. Executive leadership will comprise Decoy's key figures alongside Salarius' CFO, ensuring a robust governance structure post-merger. With multiple drug candidates under development, the transaction promises to advance clinical trials and broaden therapeutic pipelines addressing unmet medical needs. The definitive agreement awaits shareholder approval for conversion of preferred stock into common stock. The merger is poised to create significant value by leveraging the newly combined capabilities and resources.
Sectors
- Biopharmaceuticals
- Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning
Geography
- United States – Both Salarius Pharmaceuticals and Decoy Therapeutics are based in the U.S., and their operations primarily focus on innovations in healthcare within the country.
Industry
- Biopharmaceuticals – The industry is relevant as it involves the merger of two biopharmaceutical companies focusing on innovative therapeutic developments for cancer and viral diseases.
- Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning – This industry is relevant because Decoy Therapeutics uses AI and ML tools in the design and manufacturing of peptide conjugate drug candidates.
Financials
- $7 million – Non-dilutive funding and equivalents obtained by Decoy Therapeutics from various sources including federal governments and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
- 86% ownership – Expected post-merger ownership percentage of Decoy investors in the newly formed company.
- 14% ownership – Expected post-merger ownership percentage of Salarius stockholders in the newly formed company.
Participants
Name | Role | Type | Description |
---|---|---|---|
Salarius Pharmaceuticals, Inc. | Merging Company | Company | A clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing therapies for cancer patients, listed on NASDAQ. |
Decoy Therapeutics, Inc. | Target Company | Company | A privately held preclinical biopharmaceutical company engineering peptide conjugate therapeutics using AI and ML tools. |
The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation | Funding Source | Charity | Provided significant funding to Decoy Therapeutics, supporting their innovative therapeutic developments. |
Canaccord Genuity | Strategic Advisor | Company | Provided strategic advisory services to Salarius Pharmaceuticals in the merger. |
Rick Pierce | CEO of Decoy Therapeutics | Person | Co-founder and CEO of Decoy Therapeutics, leading the newly formed entity post-merger. |
David Arthur | CEO of Salarius Pharmaceuticals | Person | President and CEO of Salarius Pharmaceuticals, overseeing the merger process. |