Signum Dermalogix receives NIH grant to develop atopic dermatitis topical drug

The National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases has awarded Signum Dermalogix a $1.6 million Small Business Innovation Research phase 2 grant for developing a topical drug candidate to treat atopic dermatitis, the company announced.

Dermalogix created a novel screening paradigm to effectively identify therapeutic compounds from its isoprenylcysteine (IPC) technology platform by using funding from a phase 1 grant, according to a press release. Several IPC compounds containing anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial activity were identified. A lead drug candidate will be selected using the phase 2 funding, along with studies on investigational new drug enabling and toxicology.

“This award is further validation of the potential for IPC compounds in dermatology,” Maxwell Stock, president and chief executive officer of Signum Dermalogix, said in the release. “We are pleased to be awarded this grant by the NIH, and our objective continues to be the development of our technology with the goal of delivering therapeutic agents to treat skin disease.”

Signum Dermalogix announced in July that the FDA had cleared an investigational new drug application to evaluate IPC compound SIG990 for treating rosacea.