Fortress Biotech Inc. in New York launched the new private company Oncogenuity Inc. on 8 March based on an exclusive global licensing agreement with Columbia University for the development of novel oligonucleotides that treat genetical driven cancers. The new company’s ONCOlogues are sensitive to a single base pair mismatch, resistant to degradation and use a proprietary delivery sequence to enter cancer cells, which allows for targeting genetic mutations without impacting wild-type DNA sequences and may reduce off-target toxicity, opening up cancer targets that previously were deemed undruggable. Oncogenuity’s lead drug candidate – still in preclinical development – targets KRAS G12D mutations. The company also plans to use its drug development platform to seek treatments for coronaviruses. Fortress previously partnered with Columbia University to launch Caelum Biosciences Inc. in 2017. (Also see "Tech Transfer Roundup: Aduro Hopes Stanford Algorithm Will Optimize Its IO Candidates" - Scrip, 10 February, 2017.)

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