Signature Therapeutics, Inc.

In 2004, a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company called Signature Therapeutics was founded by Steven Shafer. The company, initially known as PharmacoFore, set out with a specific mission: to develop abuse-resistant prescription drugs. They focused on creating prodrugs, which are inactive medications that, once taken orally, become therapeutically active through the digestive process. This innovative approach aimed to tackle the growing problem of prescription drug misuse, particularly with opioids. The core of their work was the Bio-Activated Molecular Delivery (BIO-MD™) platform. This technology was designed to prevent abuse through non-oral methods like injection or inhalation. One of their key products was PF614, an abuse-deterrent version of Oxycodone. The company attracted investment, raising $10 million in a significant funding round in December 2011 from investors including Founders Fund and Westlake International Group. The company's journey culminated in a significant event. On December 31, 2015, Signature Therapeutics merged with Ensysce Biosciences. This merger created a more integrated drug delivery company, combining Signature's focus on abuse-deterrent small molecules with Ensysce's work on large molecule delivery. The combined entity continued under the Ensysce Biosciences name, relocating from Palo Alto to San Diego to advance the clinical trials for their pipeline of safer pain medications.