Linnaeus Cofounders Publish Paper on Skin Pigmentation in eLife Journal

Philadelphia, April 26, 2016 — Linnaeus Therapeutics, Inc. (“Linnaeus”), a privately held biopharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialization of novel, small molecule oncology therapeutics, today announced that data from studies conducted at the University of Pennsylvania by its scientific founders was published in the journal eLife.

The paper, entitled “Sex steroids regulate skin pigmentation through nonclassical membrane-bound receptors” was authored by Natale, et al. The findings detailed that when skin cells responsible for pigmentation are exposed to estrogen or progesterone, the cells respond by adjusting their melanin production, resulting in either skin darkening or lightening.

Although pregnant women often experience alterations in skin pigmentation, the reason for the changes has long puzzled physicians. This work has identified cellular pathways in skin pigment cells that are activated by estrogen and progesterone—two of the main female sex hormones—and also identified synthetic hormone derivatives that specifically influence the pigment producing pathway. Together, the findings provide critical information that could lead to the development of new products that change skin tone without exposure to UV radiation or toxic bleaching agents.

About Linnaeus

Linnaeus Therapeutics, Inc. is a privately held biopharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialization of novel, small molecule oncology therapeutics that target a novel G protein-coupled receptor, known as GPER, or GPR30. The company was launched through the UPstart incubator at the University of Pennsylvania’s Penn Center for Innovation (PCI) Ventures. Its lead molecule, LNS8801, is in the final stages of preclinical development. The company expects to begin its phase 1 clinical program in the summer of 2019. In addition to developing GPER agonists, Linnaeus is also currently focusing on developing small molecules that activate other G protein-coupled receptors to engage tumor-suppressive cellular signaling pathways.

Contact

Patrick Mooney
Chief Executive Officer
(856) 433-1300
pmooney@linnaeustx.com