ADP-009: Tokenization of AthenaDAO’s first IP-NFT “Understanding the role of the cGAS-STING pathway and senescence in ovarian aging” - Amended

We are expediting this proposal given the support shown in our community on discourse and market demand.

Purpose

We are proposing to tokenize our first IP-NFT, “Understanding the role of the cGAS-STING pathway and senescence in ovarian aging” into IPTs. We plan to crowdfund $75.9K to support Professor Mario Cordero at Pablo de Olavide University in Seville, Spain to complete preclinical validation of a small molecule inhibitor targeting a senescence pathway in the ovary.

Background

The project aims to investigate the role of the cGAS-STING pathway and cellular senescence in ovarian aging, with a focus on developing treatments to prevent ovarian reserve loss during aging and improve ovarian reserve in patients with Diminished Ovarian Reserve (DOR) and those undergoing chemotherapy.

AthenaDAO’s initial support for “Understanding the role of the cGAS-STING pathway and senescence in the ovarian aging” via a Sponsored Research Agreement (SRA) was approved in ADP-002. The IP-NFT Minting Ceremony can be viewed here. The IP-NFT can be viewed here.

The IP-NFT covers four aims as follows:

1. Identification of the specific cells associated with the cGAS-STING pathway activation in aging, and validation of cGAS-STING pathway activation as a target for early Diminished 2. Ovarian Reserve (DOR) in human samples. Validation of cGAS-STING pathway activation as a target for chemotherapy-induced DOR in both animal models and human patients.
2. Development and in vitro evaluation of the pharmacological efficacy of novel cGAS-STING pathway inhibitors.
3. Evaluation of the efficacy of cGAS-STING pathway inhibition in animal models of age-induced and chemotherapy-induced DOR.

Due to early completion of aims 1-3, this project is ready for its second tranche of funding to finish aim 3 and complete aim 4. Further to this, rather than just continue to fund the second phase, we want to show the community of funders that the research AthenaDAO is doing due diligence on and funding is having early and good positive results.

Progress so far

Dr. Mario D. Cordero’s team has completed the first three aims, validating cGAS-STING importance in chemotherapy-induced DOR in animals, with validation in human tissue from aging women well on its way. Additionally, Dr. Cordero’s team has identified several novel cGAS-STING inhibitors with promising activity in vitro on a relevant model of cGAS-STING activation, and has successfully tested the most promising inhibitor in an in vivo model of systemic inflammation in mice. These inhibitors have the potential to be included in a Composition of Matter patent, which is currently being filed in Europe.

View the latest progress report here.

Tokenomics

A total of 5,000,000 FACC (representing fertility acceleration or f/acc) tokens were minted using the “Understanding the role of the cGAS-STING pathway and senescence in ovarian aging” IP-NFT. 6.9% of the FACC tokens will be offered in a fixed-price sale. Tokens made available in the offering will be subject to a lockup period of one year.

Researchers will receive 3% upon completion of the first milestone, vested over 4 years, with a 1-year cliff to incentivize the long-term success of the project. Upon completion of the second milestone, the researchers will receive an additional 3% of FACC, vested over 4 years, with a 1-year cliff. AthenaDAO Science and Dealflow Contributors directly involved in the project will receive 3%, vested over 4 years, with a 1-year cliff. All parties with vested tokens will receive vFACC so that they can participate in governance during the lock period.

An Entrepreneur-in-Residence (EIR) Project Manager will be assigned at a later date and will require governance approval by FACC holders. The EIR Project Manager will receive up to a total of 1% of FACC, vested over 4 years, with a 1-year cliff, as milestones are met.

3.1% of FACC tokens are assigned for liquidity provisioning. A Uniswap V3 Liquidity Pool will be created on Ethereum upon claiming the funding proceeds with FACC tokens representing 0.64% of the total token supply. Additionally, a 4% Molecule AG option for liquidity provisioning is in place with an agreement with a 50-50 split liquidity pool fee sharing between Molecule and AthenaDAO as they are the providers of infrastructure support.

All percentages mentioned above are of the total $FACC supply.

FACC tokens represent membership in an IP Pool with access to the IP-NFT “Understanding the role of the cGAS-STING pathway and senescence in the ovarian aging”, attached IP, and R&D data. Holders will have information rights, which include the right to receive regular, non-confidential updates from the researcher and ask questions to the researcher.

Please see the full whitepaper here.

Conclusion

AthenaDAO’s first IP-NFT has quickly met milestones and is ready for preclinical studies. Tokenizing this IP-NFT will allow the community to drive the project forward by democratizing decision making through governance ownership. Allowing the IPTs to be traded on the market will allow for price discovery and future fundraising, if needed and passed through governance.