innovating your quality of life

The food we eat, the supplements we take, even how stressed we feel, are all factors of our health. Society’s dated view towards treating health, wellness, and disease leaves the majority of those in need of guidance to make limited decisions about their health, while few people truly benefit from the aid of true science. Our mission is to bridge this gap and bring our novel technologies to market faster and more efficiently, in order to improve the overall health and quality of life to those who do not have access to such aid. Signum sees the full human element in scientific discovery and strives to have a real and direct effect on people’s lives. By implementing drug development standards within our consumer products, we make the most of the tools we have at our disposal to develop a product worthy of your health and well-being. We share these products with our families, and for that reason, we take the development of our consumer products every bit as seriously as the development of our prescription products. From the moment of discovery, to the moment it passes from our hands to yours, we are there every step of the way.

How We Started

Signum Biosciences’ CEO and President, Maxwell Stock, has dedicated his life to translational scientific research and science-based product development. Max virtually grew up in the lab working with his father, Dr. Jeffry Stock, Chairman of Signum Biosciences and Professor of Molecular Biology and Chemistry at Princeton University. Max’s earliest memories of his father include memorizing the chemicals being studied, the tools being used, conversations around the dinner table, and a lifelong desire to understand and contribute. Max went on to major in molecular biology at the University of Colorado, and at the same time work in the lab. His first job was at Synergen in Colorado. Later he worked at Princeton University doing experiments in his father’s academic lab. This led to the founding of Signum Biosciences where Max set up his own laboratory to exploit the basic research results he had worked on at the university. This close father-son team laboring with a common belief that great science can lead to great products that provide solutions to real-life problems has made Signum Biosciences what it is today; a biotechnology company with a reputation for scientific integrity that, translates the results of basic academic research to develop products that promote healthful living – a biotech company dedicated to the science of staying healthy.

Who We Are

Unlike most biotech companies, Signum is concerned with developing products that promote health, rather than developing drugs to treat disease. Our focus is on prevention rather than intervention. Aging is an integral part of human development, and healthy aging is our primary focus. With time, the imbalances of poor nutrition, stressful work, lack of exercise, and the anxieties of modern living become progressively more apparent. Because of this, in today’s environment, healthy aging is problematic. The current state of the American “healthcare” industry has evolved to become a “disease care” economy. Given this situation, it is not surprising that over the past few years the average American lifespan has actually begun to decline. At Signum we have targeted our science toward the development of products to help maintain the quality of life. Brain health, skin quality, muscle retention all of which tend to degrade with age. Our mission is to target these signs of ill health by applying the powerful scientific technologies that are currently used almost exclusively for the treatment of disease.. We are determined to prevent the symptoms of ill health and aging, and we want to share this mission with you.

What We Do

At Signum we initially focused on the development of topical cosmetics to improve and maintain healthy skin and prevent the appearance of dermatological diseases. Our skin is the face we present to others, and the face we present to the world has a major effect on how we feel about ourselves, and this “feeling” is a major factor in our overall well-being. This is true at all stages of our lives, and we have developed both anti-aging products that really work as well as cosmetics to treat the appearance of Acne vulgaris, which is a debilitating problem of the young. From skin, we have expanded our research to discover micronutrients that promote brain health. Our first product in this area is an extract of coffee, EHT, that has now been shown to be efficacious in animal models of dementia In the lab, we do not take shortcuts, and we do not take no for an answer. Our compounds and ingredients are the products of endless hours behind the bench, in front of investors, and becoming familiar with you, the consumer’s needs. Without you none of this would be possible. The people whose lives we have set out to change, are the ones that keep the Signum team working long hours in the office and lab. At Signum, you come first, and we make it our number one priority to provide you with what you need to help you live a happy and healthy life.

this is our team

Formulating the right group of people within the right culture, is comparative to any other formulation. When done correctly, the results can be remarkable. From our roots in academia to our entry points into the consumer world, we are certain that we have developed the right blend of the right minds and talent to change lives around the world.

Maxwell Stock, President & CEO

Has the primary responsibility of spearheading Signum's business development efforts in combination with developing strategic plans to advance the company's mission and objectives. An inventor on Signum patents and a co-founder of the company, his extensive laboratory experience and familiarity with our science have been critical in executing and maintaining Signum's strategic partnerships. He majored in molecular biology at the University of Colorado, conducted research efforts at Synergen, Inc., and founded several startups before founding Signum and joining professor Stock's Princeton laboratory to develop the technologies upon which Signum is built.

Eduardo Perez, PhD Chief Scientific Officer

Leads our R&D and business development efforts in combination with supporting nutraceutical development. Since joining Signum in 2006, Eddie has been a key contributor in securing funding for the company via executing out-licensing deals and government funding. Prior to joining Signum, he received his PhD in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from UMDNJ studying the role of methylation in signaling systems. He received his BA in Biology from Rutgers University.

Michael Voronkov, PhD Vice President of Medicinal Chemistry

Leads our small molecule and preclinical development effort at Signum Biosciences. Before coming to Signum, he led R&D at MosChemPharm (Russia) and prior to that he worked in Drug Discovery at Lexicon Pharmaceuticals. He received his PhD in Organic Chemistry from Emory University and his BA in Chemical Engineering from St. Petersburg Institute of Chemical Technology (Russia).

Jose Fernandez, PhD Director of Research & Development

Jose is focused on developing new and innovative dermatological products with a commitment to quality, efficacy and safety. He provides in vitro and in vivo assay systems and robust analytical expertise including safety, efficacy and claim substantiation for cosmetics, botanicals, nutraceuticals and pharmaceuticals. Leads the team in specializing and producing customized cosmetic claim support and/or efficacy tests providing robust scientific data to support advertising or packaging claims.

Masanori Tamura, Director of Product Development

Masoanori Tamura, Markie, is an expert formulator who will be responsible for developing new formulations that synergize with Signum’s novel library of therapeutic agents. He will lead the team in developing new product ideas, new formulations, as well as enhancing the performance of existing formulations. Markie’s keen eye for identifying and solving problems as they relate to product manufacturing and product development will be invaluable in producing our next generation of products. His 10 years of experience in skin care will allow Signum to continue to be leaders in the dermatological field.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Maxwell Stock
President and CEO

Max comes from Signum’s parent company, Signum Biosciences, where he was a co-founder. He oversees day-to-day operations to ensure close coordination between the business and R&D efforts. He majored in Molecular Biology at the University of Colorado, conducted research at Synergen Inc., and was involved with previous start-up companies before coming to Professor Stock’s Princeton laboratory to help develop the technologies that Signum is commercializing. A co-inventor on multiple patents, he is responsible for business development as well as smoothly implementing the company’s R&D and product development.

Jeffry Stock, PhD
Chairman

A tenured full professor in the departments of Molecular Biology and Chemistry at Princeton University , he is one of the world’s leading experts in signal transduction and global cellular regulation with over 150 original scientific articles in the area. He is an elected fellow of the American Society of Microbiology and a winner of the Humboldt Prize. He is on the editorial boards of the Journal of Biochemistry and BMC Microbiology, and he serves on the Centers Review Committee for the National Institute of Drug Abuse. He is a co-founder of Signum Biosciences and Cadus Pharmaceuticals (KDUS). Professor Stock is best known for his seminal work on the biochemistry of signal transduction in micro-organisms. He is the force behind our science, which is why our laboratory is located near his Princeton research laboratory.

Gregory Stock, PhD
Board Member

Dr. Stock is co-founder of Signum Biosciences and My Mercury Risk Inc. Prior to Signum, Dr. Stock directed the Program on Medicine, Technology and Society at UCLA’s School of Medicine. He has broad scientific, media and business experience, holds an MBA from Harvard Business School, where he was a Baker Scholar and won the Freund-Porter Entrepreneurship award, he has a PhD in biophysics from Johns Hopkins University. He has authored a number of books on the implications of new technology, particularly in the life sciences, and several best-sellers on human ethics and values..

Stephen Modzelewski
Board Member

Has been active in the field of finance since 1982, when he joined Salomon Brothers, which is now a part of Citicorp. In his 5 year tenure there, he created various mathematical models for valuing fixed income securities, developed the conceptual framework for “option adjusted spread,” which has become a standard analytical metric for complex fixed income securities. In 1988, he and a colleague left Salomon and established the hedge fund Parsec Trading Corp., which has been a successful fixed income arbitrage fund for over 13 years. At the end of 2002, Modzelewski established his own trading and investment firm, Maple Engine L.L.C., a private multi-strategy investment and trading fund focusing on speculative trading and venture investment. He serves on the Boards of the Reason Foundation and the Institute for Justice.

Yoichi Kambara
Board Member

Rohto Pharmaceutical Co.’s Managing Director, Corporate planning & administration. He is an energetic and dynamic leader with a progressive global vision for the growth and development of Rohto’s shareholder value. He has served as the President of Medicare Systems at Rohto Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. , Managing Director of Tokyo Mitsubishi Toshin Toshi Komon K.K since June 2001, President and Representative Director at Mitsubishi Tokyo Wealth Management Shoken K.K since March 2002 and has been a Director at Rohto Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. since June 6, 2008. He has led Rohto’s visionary long-term investments in R&D and has directed the continuous and dramatic growth of sales in recent years in spite of a weak economy in Japan. In the short term he has focused all activities on the goals of achieving further growth in Rohto’s operations and improving earnings by introducing value-added products and using the overseas network to expand operations. Strategically Rohto will continue to concentrate on sales of beauty care products and reinforce R&D capabilities, primarily at Rohto Research Village Kyoto, in order to develop and launch new products globally. Our mutual research collaboration will contribute to Rohto’s strategic goals, while enhancing the commercial, business development and market focus of Signum’s research priorities. We look forward to a productive and long-term relationship.

SCIENTIFIC ADVISORY BOARD

Scott Vafai, MD
Board Member

Dr. Vafai is Director of the Mitochondrial Therapeutics Accelerator at the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard. His research group is developing novel therapeutics targeting mitochondria in rare and common disease. Dr. Vafai is also a co-founder of Metavention, a medical device company that is developing sympathetic denervation as a therapy for type 2 diabetes. He is a graduate of Princeton University and Harvard Medical School and is clinically trained in internal medicine and endocrinology.

Jeffrey Cummings, MD
Board Member

Dr. Cummings is Director of the Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health, Las Vegas. Previously he was the Augustus S. Rose Professor of Neurology and Professor of Psychiatry and Bio-behavioral Sciences at UCLA. He founded and directed the UCLA Alzheimer’s Disease Center and the Deane F. Johnson Center for Neurotherapeutics at UCLA. Dr Cummings interests embrace clinical trials and the development of new treatments for neurodegenerative disorders and other neurological diseases. He is past president of the Behavioral Neurology Society and of the American Neuropsychiatric Association and in 2005 was named Edward Henderson State-of-the-Art Lecturer by the American Geriatrics Society. He has authored or edited 20 books and over 450 peer reviewed papers.

Khalid Iqbal, PhD
Board Member

Dr. Iqbal is currently Professor and Chairman, Department of Neurochemistry, at the New York State Institute for Basic Research in Staten Island, New York and co-founded the biennial International Conferences on Alzheimer’s Disease & Related Disorders, (ICAD). Dr. Iqbal has authored over 200 scientific papers in prestigious American and international scientific journals and edited eight books on research advances in Alzheimer’s disease. His major research interests are the neurobiology of Alzheimer’s disease and related neurodegenerative disorders, especially the molecular mechanisms of neurofibrillary degeneration. His pioneering studies on neuronal protein pathology and discoveries of the involvement of the tau protein and its abnormal hyperphosphorylation in Alzheimer disease have won him several prestigious honors and awards, including the Potemkin Prize from the American Academy of Neurology and the Zenith Award from the Alzheimer’s Association.

Yigong Shi, PhD
Board Member

Dr. Shi is Dean of the School of Life Sciences, and Professor of the Department of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology at Tsinghua University, Beijing, China. Previously, he was the Warner-Lambert/Parke-Davis Professor in the department of Molecular Biology at Princeton University. He has determined the crystal structure of several critical apoptotic proteins, and is a world leader in x-ray crystal structure determination. For his research contributions, Dr. Shi has received a number of recognitions, including the 2003 Irving Sigal Young Investigator Award from the Protein Society.

together we do what we couldn't alone

We believe that the best way to move forward, advance our own scientific platform and the work that comes from it, is through partnerships with leading researchers and institutions. We carefully handpick our collaborators to ensure that the same level of investment into the product and mission is shared by all.

Research Collaborators

the best science isn't conducted solitude

At Signum, we think great ideas should be shared. Therefore, we work with a number of leading researchers and institutions to advance our programs, our ideas, and the scientific foundation of our platform. Together we can go farther than what would be possible alone.

Jeffry B. Stock, PhD at Princeton University

Signum has extensive ongoing interaction with the Research laboratory of Jeffry Stock, Ph. D., in the Dept. of Molecular Biology. Signum licensed its foundational PP2A and AFC technology from Dr. Stock’s laboratory which
continues to do basic research to elucidate the underlying biochemistry of these systems. Dr. Stock’s laboratory has been able to perform various sophisticated tests on some of Signum’s active agents, and continues to be a source of knowledge and expertise.

Princeton University is not a partner or affiliate of Signum and does not endorse or promote the products of Signum.

Donald C. Lo, PhD at Duke University

Dr. Lo is Co-Director of the Center for Drug Discovery at Duke University. His work focuses on translating basic neuroscience research into identification of novel therapeutics for neurodegenerative disorders. Application of high content screening techniques in intact neural tissues forms the cornerstone of his works in the areas of Huntington’s, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases.

New York State Institute For Basic Research In Developmental Disabilities

In collaboration with Khalid Iqbal, Ph. D., a pioneer in Alzheimer’s neurofibrillary degeneration Professor and Chairman, Department of Neurochemistry, at the NY State Institute for Basic Research, Dr. Iqbal’s lab is exploring the effects of our STMs in various rate and mouse models in Alzheimer’s.

M. Maral Mouradian, M.D., Rutgers-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School

M. Maral Mouradian, M.D., is the William Dow Lovett Professor of Neurology and Director of the Center of Neurodegenerative and Neuroimmunologic Diseases at the Rutgers – Robert Wood Johnson Medical School. She was named the chief editor for “Neurotherapeutics” and her work focuses on the molecular pathogenesis of Parkinson’s disease and follows an extensive career that has led to the development of important therapeutics for treatment of this disease.

Research Partners

Signum has received grant funding from federal and research foundation sources that have allowed critical advancement of our science and validate its importance.

Angus C. Narin, Ph. D., Yale University

Dr. Narin is the Charles B.G. Murphy Professor of Psychiatry and Professor of Pharmacology at Yale School of Medicine. He is an expert in the structure and function of protein kinases and phosphatases. His particular interests have focused around dopamineric signal transduction with implications for a broad range of neurological conditions including Parkinson’s disease, schizophrenia and ADHD.

The National Institutes Of Health (NIH)

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is an agency of the United States Department of Health and Human Services and is the primary agency of the United States government responsible for biomedical and health-related research.

Corporate Partners

Signum partners with some of the top skincare and cosmetics companies in the world to bring breakthrough science to the skin of millions.

Nerium International, LLC, headquartered in Addison, Texas, is a relationship marketing company that markets breakthrough products validated by science. Since its August 2011 launch, Nerium has reached record-breaking sales and earned industry accolades while building millions of consumer fans along the way. Led by an award-winning executive team with more than 200 years of collective industry experience, Nerium is committed to developing and distributing anti-aging products that are rooted in real science, produce real results, and improve consumers’ lives. Our partnership will contribute to Nerium International’s strategic goals and future products to be developed utilizing Signum’s technologies and research capabilities. We look forward to a productive, long-term relationship.

Rohto is a Japan-based company that manufactures and sells a wide range of products including skincare, eye care, and oral medicines. Headquartered in Osaka, Rohto has 20 subsidiaries and five associated companies, giving them broad reach in the Japanese markets. We jointly develop new applications and products with Rohto’s RVK (Research Village Kyoto) facility. Our partnership includes a semi-exclusive license for Arazine™ in Japan only. In addition Rohto has made a significant investment into Signum and have a seat on our Board of Directors. We will continue to contribute to Rohto’s strategic goals, while enhancing the commercial, business development and market focus of Signum’s technologies.

We have partnered with Dermata Therapeutics, LLC , a private specialty pharmaceutical company developing innovative prescription drugs for dermatological conditions. We have out-Licensed SIG-990 (aka DMT200/DMT210) to Dermata Therapeutics for the topical treatment of rosacea. SIG-990 (aka DMT200/DMT210) is a novel, first-in-class anti-inflammatory compound which has the potential to both reduce erythema and decrease the papules and pustules associated with the disease. The Investigational New Drug (IND) application for SIG-990 (aka DMT200/DMT210) has been cleared by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and SIG-990 (aka DMT200/DMT210) is thus ready to be evaluated in subjects. Dermata has obtained an exclusive worldwide license to SIG-990 (aka DMT200/DMT210) and is responsible for the clinical development of the product. Dermalogix will receive milestone payments and royalties on revenues of the product.

We have partnered with Elizabeth Arden, Inc., on an exclusive global license for the cosmetic functional ingredient Arazine™ (N-acetyl-S-farnesyl-cysteine) as well as developing new screening methodologies to measure the anti-oxidant potential of other product ingredients. Arazine™ was recently launched as a key ingredient in Elizabeth Arden’s Prevage® Anti-aging + Intensive Repair Daily Serum product. We look forward to collaborating with Elizabeth Arden’s efforts in producing innovative, high quality skin care products supported with robust scientific data.

About Signum

innovating your quality of life

The Signum Story

How We Started

Who We Are

What We Do

Our Leadership