What we do
Signum Biosciences is a private biotech company founded in 2003 from technologies developed by Dr. Jeffry Stock at Princeton University. With over 15 years of developing multiple ingredients and botanical extracts from discovery to fully formulated skin-care products that are on the market, Signum possesses the ability to streamline your research and product development. We specialize in producing customized claim support and dermatological efficacy testing to provide clients with robust scientific data needed to substantiate product claims and/or compare head to head versus competitors. We work with clients ranging from multi-national companies to virtual biotech startups, all projects are welcomed. We have highly trained scientists who can tailor a research plan to fit your requirements be it efficacy, safety, regulatory or scientific marketing. Whether you are early in discovery phase, development, clinical stage, or ready to commercialize your products, Signum can provide the following services to aid you on your product development path.
- Standard assays to determine activity profile
- Safety and regulatory support
- Customized screening
- Topical formulation development, stability and dermal penetration studies
- Scientific marketing and peer-reviewed publishing of results
- Botanical extraction, characterization and manufacturing
- Compound synthesis and manufacturing
Signum is the solution to optimize your R&D screening, product development and customized research at a reduced cost compared to larger CRO’s. We provide superior service to differentiate your product, so contact us today. Our discussions will provide the scientific excellence and quality your product deserves.
For a full list of services we offer, download the PDF below.
Standard Assays
Signum has a host of standard assays that can be performed to test your ingredient, compound, or formulated product. With assay systems in areas of inflammation, aging, pollutant toxicity, anti-microbial, anti-oxidant, skin whitening and tanning, wound healing, and metabolism, Signum is able to provide a full-spectrum of research methods to suite your needs. We possess in vitro capabilities for molecular techniques including enzymatic evaluation, gene and protein expression, cell line expansion, intracellular pathway analysis using colorimetric, fluorescent or histology-based methods.
Inflammation
Catalog # |
Model |
Stimulus/Inducer |
Endpoint |
Method |
Reference |
SKI-001 |
Human Epidermal Keratinocytes (NHEKs) or Human Reconstructed Epidermis (EpiDerm™) |
TPA/PMA |
Chemical irritation |
Cytokine ELISA |
Glucocorticoid |
SKI-002 |
UVB |
Photodamage |
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SKI-003 |
Sunburn Cells |
Vitamin C |
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SKI-004 |
DNA pyrimidine dimers |
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SKI-005 |
Lipid Peroxides |
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SKI-006 |
Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells (PBMC) |
anti-CD3/CD28 |
T-cell activation |
Th2/Th17-marker ELISA |
TGF-beta |
SKI-007 |
Human Dermal Microvascular Endothelial Cells (HDMECs) |
ATP-gS |
ATP inflammation |
MTS Viability, Cytokine ELISA |
Glucocorticoid |
SKI-008 |
anti-microbial peptide (LL-37) |
Cathelicidin |
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SKI-009 |
Nickel sulfate |
Nickel Allergy |
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SKI-010 |
Human Epidermal Keratinocytes (NHEKs) |
C. acnes, PGN |
IL-8 |
Dexamethasone |
|
SKI-011 |
Human Reconstructed Cornea (EpiOcular™) |
Dry Eye |
Viability, MMP9 |
Aging
Catalog # |
Model |
Stimulus/Inducer |
Endpoint |
Method |
Reference |
SKA-001 |
Human Epidermal Keratinocytes (NHEKs) |
Cell Confluence |
Epidermal Differentiation |
Keratin-1, Filaggrin, Loricrin |
Adapalene |
SKA-002 |
Blue Light |
Photoaging |
Viability, HAS2 |
Vitamin C |
|
SKA-003 |
Human Adult Dermal Fibroblasts (HDFs) or Human Reconstructed Epidermis (EpiDermFT™) |
Basal |
Extra cellular matrix expression |
MMPs, Collagen, Elastin, |
Vitamin C, TGF-beta |
Fibronectin, |
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SKA-004 |
UVA |
Photoaging |
Laminin |
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SKA-004 |
H2O2 |
Senescence |
Histology |
Pollutant Toxicity
Catalog # |
Model |
Stimulus/Inducer |
Endpoint |
Method |
Reference |
TOX-001 |
Human Epidermal Keratinocytes (NHEKs) |
Urban Dust Particulate |
Air Pollution |
MTS Viability, Cytokine ELISA |
Dexamethasone |
TOX-002 |
Human Dermal Microvascular Endothelial Cells (HDMECs) |
Cadmium |
Metal Pollution |
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TOX-003 |
Nickel |
Anti-Microbial
Catalog # |
Model |
Stimulus/Inducer |
Endpoint |
Method |
Reference |
AMIC-001 |
Cutibacterium acnes |
Minimum inhibitory Concentration |
Anti-bacterial |
Culture Turbidity, Colony counting |
Doxycycline |
AMIC-002 |
Staphylococcus epidermidis |
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AMIC-003 |
Staphylococcus aureus |
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AMIC-004 |
Streptococcus pyogenes |
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AMIC-005 |
Escherichia coli |
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AMIC-006 |
Pseudomonas aeruginosa |
Gentamycin |
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AMIC-007 |
Candida albicans |
TYMC |
Anti-fungal |
Colony counting |
Fluconazole |
AMIC-008 |
Aspergillus brasiliensis |
Benzalkonium Chloride |
Anti-Oxidant
Catalog # |
Model |
Stimulus/Inducer |
Endpoint |
Method |
Reference |
AOX-001 |
Cell-free antioxidant |
H2O2 |
ROS scavenging |
ABTS |
Vitamin C, Ferulic Acid |
AOX-002 |
Human Adult Dermal Fibroblasts (HDFs) |
Intracellular ROS |
DCF-DA |
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AOX-003 |
Low Density Lipoproteins |
Fe2SO4 |
Lipid Peroxidation |
Hydroperoxide |
|
AOX-004 |
Microsomes |
NADPH/ADP/Fe3+ |
Membrane MDA |
TBARS |
|
AOX-005 |
Human Neutrophils HL-60 |
fMLP/PMA |
Cell Oxidative Burst |
Colorimetric |
Vitamin E |
Skin Whitening
Catalog # |
Model |
Stimulus/Inducer |
Endpoint |
Method |
Reference |
SKW-001 |
Cell-free Tyrosinase |
Basal |
Tyrosinase inhibition |
Colorimetric |
Kojic Acid |
SKW-002 |
Human Reconstructed Epidermis (MelanoDerm™) |
Melanin content |
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SKW-003 |
Epidermal Melanocytes |
Skin Tanning
Catalog # |
Model |
Stimulus/Inducer |
Endpoint |
Method |
Reference |
SKT-001 |
Human Reconstructed Epidermis (MelanoDerm™) |
Basal |
Melanin content |
Colorimetric |
IBMX |
SKT-002 |
Epidermal Melanocytes |
Wound Healing
Catalog # |
Model |
Stimulus/Inducer |
Endpoint |
Method |
Reference |
WH-001 |
Human Epidermal Keratinocytes (NHEKs) |
in vitro wound (scratch assay) |
Cell Migration |
Histology |
EGF |
WH-002 |
Human Dermal Fibroblasts (HDFs) |
FGF |
Metabolism
Catalog # |
Model |
Stimulus/Inducer |
Endpoint |
Method |
Reference |
MET-001 |
Human Epidermal Keratinocytes (NHEKs) or Human Reconstructed Epidermis (EpiDerm™) |
Basal |
Mitochondrial localization |
Histology |
EGF |
Safety and Regulatory Support
Equally important to determining if your ingredient possesses beneficial skin properties is to ensure that it is safe when topically applied. We perform a battery of tests to ensure your ingredient possesses a safety profile adherent to industry standards and can provide regulatory support in getting your novel ingredient or extract registered with the Personal Care and Products Council for INCI designation.
Catalog # |
Model |
Stimulus/Inducer |
Endpoint |
Method |
Reference |
SAF-001 |
OECD TG 439: Human Reconstructed Epidermis (EpiDerm™) |
Basal |
Skin Irritation |
MTT |
SDS |
SAF-002 |
OECD TG 492: Human Reconstructed Cornea (EpiOcular™) |
Basal |
Ocular irritation |
MTT |
Methyl Acetate |
SAF-003 |
OECD TG 432: Mouse BALB/3T3 Fibroblasts |
UVA |
Phototoxicity |
Neutral |
Chlorpromazine |
Red Uptake |
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SAF-004 |
Human Reconstructed Skin (EpiDerm FT™) |
UVA |
Photodamage |
MTT |
Chlorpromazine |
SAF-005 |
UVB |
Sun Screen |
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SAF-006 |
Infrared-A |
Vitamin C |
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SAF-007 |
OECD TG 428: Skin Absortion |
Basal |
Dermal Penetration |
Franz Cell |
Vehicle |
Formulation
After determining the activity and safety profile of your ingredients, Signum can provide formulation services to move forward the development of your actives into a formulated product. Signum has the capabilities to develop your ingredients into any desired formulation (i.e. cream, lotion, gel, toner, serum, etc.). Along with formulation development, we offer related services in formulation including stability testing, preservative testing, and Franz cell dermal penetration studies. Utilizing reconstructed 3D human skin tissues, your final formulated product can be applied topically and tested for efficacy in vitro and, if desired, compared head to head to competitor products to aid in claim substantiation and marketing.
Customized Screening
Standard dermatological tests, while effective in many respects, do not always provide the best path forward in characterizing the activity of your ingredient or product. Given our past experience in working to develop and commercialize cosmetics, botanical extracts, pharmaceuticals and nutraceuticals, we possess innovative capabilities in protocol design, assay development and claim support testing. With the support of our knowledgeable project management team, we can demonstrate the activity of your molecule or product by personalizing an experimental plan and assay system to produce exciting scientific data to deliver your study objectives and support your product’s brand goals.
Other Services
Signum strives to offer comprehensive services to our clients and their ingredients or products no matter what stage of development you are in. We have experience taking ingredients from discovery to market and can assist you with any and all steps along the way. Listed below are some of the additional services that we offer.
- Botanical Extraction
- Signum has experience fractionating botanical extracts to identify the key ingredients driving activity and characterization. Once identified the extract can be scaled up, assessed for stability, studied analytically to set specifications and then moved into testing with several formulation prototypes
- Scientific Marketing (manuscripts, posters, etc.)
- Signum understands the importance of giving your product credibility and differentiation from competitors. We offer scientific writing services such as manuscripts or posters for your ingredient or product which can be submitted to present in scientific conferences or for peer-reviewed publication.
- Medicinal Chemistry and Scale Manufacturing
- Given our expertise in Rx development and synthesizing novel compounds, we can assist your efforts in synthesizing compounds, making a series of derivatives or scaling up your current ingredient to kilo scale. Beyond that, our Florida facility can perform large scale manufacturing to 100+ kg once your product is on the market
Early development and precise strategy can reduce costs and accelerate timelines. Contact us to learn more about all our services and how Signum Biosciences can bring maximum benefit to your development program and product.