Decoy Therapeutics, Inc.

Decoy Therapeutics, Inc. is a biotechnology company focused on engineering the next generation of peptide conjugate therapeutics to protect and expand patient lives. The company leverages machine learning (ML) and artificial intelligence (AI) tools alongside high-speed synthesis techniques for the rapid design and manufacturing of its drug candidates. Headquartered in Cambridge, Massachusetts, Decoy Therapeutics aims to develop accessible and affordable medicines globally. [1, 2, 3, 4, 8, 11, 13, 15, 16, 17, 19, 21, 22, 24, 25, 26, 28, 29, 32]

The company's core business revolves around its proprietary IMP³ACT platform, which underpins its Designable Multi-Antivirals (D-MAVs). These D-MAVs are engineered to target shared viral mechanisms, moving beyond the traditional one-virus, one-drug model to enable a single, adaptable drug to work across multiple viruses. Decoy Therapeutics' initial pipeline is concentrated on respiratory viruses and gastrointestinal (GI) cancers. Key programs include DCOY-COV, a pan-coronavirus D-MAV targeting high-risk and immunocompromised populations, with a Phase 1 clinical trial anticipated in 2027, and DCOY-TRI, a multi-virus respiratory program designed to address influenza, coronavirus, and paramyxovirus families. [2, 6, 9, 11, 13, 21, 24, 25, 26, 28, 29, 32, 33]

Under the leadership of CEO Rick Pierce, appointed in November 2025, Decoy Therapeutics has undergone significant strategic developments. The company, formerly Salarius Pharmaceuticals, Inc., officially changed its corporate name and began trading under the NASDAQ ticker DCOY on January 8, 2026, following a merger. Recent notable activities include a strategic partnership with Quantori in March 2026 to deploy an AI-driven peptide design and molecular simulation platform, regaining compliance with Nasdaq's minimum bid price requirement in April 2026, and implementing a 1-for-12 reverse stock split in March 2026. Decoy Therapeutics has also secured funding from various sources, including the Massachusetts Life Sciences Seed Fund, Google AI startup program, and NVIDIA Inception program, and received a QuickFire Challenge award from BARDA through BLUE KNIGHT™. [5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 19, 20, 22, 24, 25, 27, 28, 30, 32, 33, 34]