Margaret “Kenny” Offermann
OncoSpherix designs and develops small-molecule therapeutics to keep cancerous tumor cells from growing in and spreading from regions of hypoxia (low levels of oxygen). The therapeutics (HIF inhibitors) block the expression of genes that help tumor cells survive and spread.
“In 2024, we began working in Lab2Launch, which is lab space that Emory provides companies for a limited time at a very low cost.
“We found that we needed more discovery-type experiments before locking in our clinical lead compound. We started screening additional compounds in our portfolio with the help of artificial intelligence (AI), to help ensure that we have the best possible compound going forward.
“Assessing the AI predictions is best done in a basic science lab like the one provided at Lab2Launch. I explored potential contract research organizations, but they didn’t have key equipment we needed, plus they charged a much higher price. It’s really great that Emory invested in this type of space and equipment exclusively for startup companies.
“Earlier, we worked with the Office of Technology Transfer to license the technology, which was developed by Erwin Van Meir at Emory and Binghe Wang at Georgia State. In addition, the Georgia Research Alliance provided grants through Emory at key early points to conduct critical experiments and advance OncoSpherix.”