Signum Biosciences Inc. in Princeton, New Jersey received two Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase 1 grants by the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases, a division of the NIH, totaling over $684,000 for development of G-protein coupled receptor modulating therapeutics designed to treat common skin disorders. Phase 1 SBIR grants fund proofs-of-concept and test the feasibility of proposed technologies.
With one grant, Signum will develop anti-inflammatory agents to reduce chronic redness (erythema) associated with the relatively common conditions eczema, atopic dermatitis, and rosacea. Signum says Signal Transduction Modulator technology has already demonstrated significant reduction of redness in a double-blinded placebo controlled clinical study.
The second SBIR grant was awarded to fund Signum’s identification and development of safe and topical anti-acne therapeutics. Acne is a common skin disorder that 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.