Epigenetic Spark: Igniting Immune Visibility in “Cold” MSS-Colorectal and SCLC Tumors

Challenge Number : #02

Pair your innovative immunotherapy or STING agonist with low-dose decitabine to induce viral mimicry, turning immunologically cold tumors hot and potentially elevating response rates far beyond current limited efficacy in MSS-CRC and SCLC.

Challenge Entry Fee: $10,000.00

Reward Amount: $400,000

Description

Low-dose decitabine (a DNA methyltransferase inhibitor) induces viral mimicry by upregulating endogenous retroviruses and dsRNA, triggering STING pathway activation, MHC-I expression, and immune infiltration—yet as monotherapy or in standard regimens, it delivers suboptimal ORR (~10-20%) in microsatellite-stable (MSS) colorectal cancer and small cell lung cancer (SCLC), where “cold” tumors resist immune attack.

This challenge scouts biotechs with complementary modalities (e.g., novel PD-1/TIGIT/LAG-3 inhibitors, STING agonists) to combine with decitabine, functionally tested on MSS-CRC or SCLC human tissues via our ex-vivo platform. Promising synergies could dramatically increase CD8+ T-cell infiltration, IFN-β secretion, and overall tumor response, unlocking previously inaccessible immune activation in these hard-to-treat settings. With the $15B+ CRC market and growing SCLC needs, a validated match promises transformative clinical impact, guideline evolution, and high partnering/exit value from innovators in epigenetics and immuno-oncology.

Standalone Compound Assessment
The Participation Framework

STRATEGIC TERMS & INCENTIVES

Empowering Biotech Innovation through Flexible Collaboration

The Investment Model:

  • Entry Protocol: $10,000 total entry fee.
  • Performance Prize: $400,000 cash award for compounds achieving ≥50% synergy across 5 human tissues.
  • The “Near-Miss” Accelerator: Compounds achieving 40–50% synergy receive a complimentary validation across 5 additional tissues.
  • Enhanced Assessment: Optional Standalone Assessment available for an additional $10,000.
  • Pathways to Commercialization (The Dual-Choice Model): To ensure IP security and alignment, participants select one of two specialized commercial paths upon a successful match:
  • Path A (The Prize Path): Receive the $400,000 cash prize plus a 45% equity stake in a FUSIONx-led spin-off entity for the combo.
  • Path B (The Ownership Path): Retain 100% IP and ownership of the combination and spin-off. FUSIONx waives the cash prize in exchange for a minor royalty/milestone interest (10%).

 

The Logistics Flow

  • Submission: Fill out dosing data and pay Participation Fee ($10,000) via Stripe.
  • Delivery: Receive compound shipping instructions for the Israel lab.
  • Analysis: Lab performs functional synergy testing against the anchor asset.
  • Finalization: Receive the full Synergy Report.

 

The Win/Win Outcomes

  • The Prize: The best match among the first 40 submittors wins the reward (split if multiple winners).
  • The Value: Even if not winning, participants get a report on their compound’s synergy performance on 5 tissues.
  • Optional: Participants can get a report on their compound’s standalone performance on 5 tissues for an additional $10,000.