Press Releases

Study in Nature by Magen BioSciences Co-Founder David E. Fisher Sheds New Light on the Pathway of Pigment Production in Skin

Cambridge, MA (September 20, 2006) -- Magen BioSciences, Inc., a specialty dermatology company, today announced the publication of a paper in the journal Nature by its co-founder and board member, David E. Fisher, M.D., Ph.D., that sheds new light on the mechanism of pigment production in skin. The paper has important implications for genetically predisposed fair-skinned individuals that are susceptible to skin damage induced by ultraviolet (UV) radiation.

In humans, fair skin is caused by a genetic variation in a cell surface receptor in the melanin production pathway that leaves it unable to respond to UV radiation. While fair skin is advantageous in colder climates, it is susceptible to severe damage from sun light, which can cause photo aging, solar lentigos, actinic keratosis, and skin cancer. Fisher’s study finds that in a mouse model, pigment can be induced without UV radiation by topical application of a targeted small molecule that stimulates the pathway, bypassing the non-responsive receptor.

For Magen BioSciences, the study in Nature provides important proof of concept for the company’s approach to identify and develop therapeutic treatments for pigmentation disorders.

"The ability to develop melanin is a crucial protective function of the skin," said David Fisher, with the Dana-Faber Cancer Institute. "This study strongly suggests that even in fair-skinned individuals who appear to be unable to produce pigment in response to UV radiation, the fundamental machinery for melanin production can still be intact and can be activated."

“Dr. Fisher’s advances in the understanding of the complex pigmentation pathway will help Magen BioSciences to identify lead compounds in our effort to develop therapeutic treatments for medical pigmentation disorders,” said Brian Gallagher, Ph.D., Magen’s president and Chief Executive Officer. “This discovery is critical in helping Magen with our mission to create drugs that could treat previously underserved medical populations with disfiguring dermatological pigmentation disorders such as vitiligo, melasma, solar lentigos and post-inflammation hyperpigmentation, as well as other photo-related disorders such as PMLE (“sun allergy”), actinic prurigo and xeroderma pigmentosum.”

About Magen BioSciences

Magen BioSciences is a specialty pharmaceutical company focused on developing proprietary medical therapies for the dermatology market. Magen was co-founded in March 2006 by Richard Aldrich, David Fisher, M.D. Ph.D., Phillip Sharp, Ph.D., David Shaw, Christopher Walsh, Ph.D. and Christoph Westphal, M.D., Ph.D. Investors include Alexandria Real Estate, ARCH Venture Partners, Highland Capital Partners, IDG Ventures, Lux Capital, QVT Financial LP, TVM Capital and Venrock Associates.

Contact for this release:

Kathryn Morris, 845-635-9828
www.magenbiosciences.com