NIAMS awards $684,000 SBIR grant to Signum Biosciences to develop GPCR modulating therapeutics

Signum Biosciences, Inc. was recently awarded two Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I grants by the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS), a division of the NIH, totaling over $684,000 for development of novel G-protein coupled receptor (GPCR) modulating therapeutics designed to treat common skin disorders.  

Through the first SBIR grant, Signum will develop anti-inflammatory agents to reduce chronic redness (erythema) associated with eczema, atopic dermatitis, and rosacea. Access to more effective therapies is of significant importance to a large patient population suffering from chronic skin disease. Signum's Signal Transduction Modulator (STM) technology has already demonstrated significant reduction of redness in a double-blinded placebo controlled clinical study.

A second SBIR grant was awarded to fund Signum's identification and development of multi-functional, safe, topical anti-acne therapeutics. Acne is the most common disorder of the human skin and affects up to 80% of individuals at some point in their lives. Signum's STM technology has shown potential to reduce both inflammation and infection associated with acne.  

"We are proud to be awarded additional grants by the NIH, further supporting our unique approach and scientific direction. Our objective continues to be development of our technology with the goal of improving quality of life for the large number of patients suffering from skin disease," stated Dr. Braham Shroot, Chief Executive Officer of Signum.  Signum has a history of successful grant funding including four NIH SBIRs for skin therapeutics totaling over $2.5M.  The company is currently in the second year of a two year $1.6 M phase II SBIR grant for the development of a rosacea therapeutic which will enter the clinic next year.