MILWAUKEE (Dec. 5, 2022) – Estrigenix Therapeutics, Inc., a Wisconsin-based, privately held pharmaceutical company leading the way in estrogen biology, is excited to announce Patricia Scheller as its executive chairwoman.
In this role, Scheller will be actively involved in Estrigenix’s business. She will chair the board of directors, act as an advisor to William Donaldson, PhD, the company’s chief executive officer (CEO) and be involved in crafting the company’s business and financing strategies.
“I feel very privileged to take on this role at such an exciting time for Estrigenix. Preliminary data indicates that the research Estrigenix is doing has the potential to positively and significantly impact the lives of millions of women who suffer from hot flashes and memory dysfunction secondary to the onset of menopause.” said Scheller. “I look forward to working with the founders of Estrigenix to successfully guide the development process and secure appropriate business partners to commercialize the technology.”
Scheller previously served as CEO and director of Viveve (VIVE), a company she took public and built to a $125M market cap. Viveve was named one of Deloitte’s Fast Technology companies and was listed on the Russell Index during Scheller’s tenure.
Estrigenix’s novel compounds address the major side effects that occur following the dramatic decline in the production of estrogen during menopause: hot flashes, sleep disruption, memory dysfunction, anxiety, and depression. Although traditional hormone therapy (HT) addresses these symptoms, HT has associated risks for breast cancer and blood clots, leading to stroke. For this reason, many OB/GYNs will not prescribe HT for the approximately 20 percent of menopausal women with a history of breast or uterine cancer or stroke.
Recent clinical and preclinical findings demonstrate that the negative side effects of HT may be due to activation of the alpha, but not beta, estrogen receptor isoform. Therefore, estrogen-based HT that selectively targets ER beta may avoid the health risks associated with ER alpha activation.
Estrigenix developed highly selective ER beta agonists that, in pre-clinical testing, demonstrated long-term ER beta activation, reducing hot flash-like symptoms andenhancing spatial and object recognition memories in ovariectomized mice. These highly selective ER beta agonists have the potential to serve as a safe alternative to HT for more than sixty million menopausal women in the U.S. alone, 80 percent of whom experience symptoms including hot flashes and memory dysfunction. The severity and frequency of hot flashes are correlated with an increased risk for Alzheimer’s disease, which may help to explain why 2/3 of Alzheimer’s patients are women. Having a treatment that address hot flashes and memory dysfunction, but avoids the potential risks associated with traditional hormone therapy, such as cancer and stroke, would provide significant benefits for women.
To learn more about Estrigenix and how its technology may help improve women’s quality of life, visit estrigenix.com.
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About Estrigenix Therapeutics, Inc.
Estrigenix Therapeutics, Inc. is a Wisconsin-based, privately held pharmaceutical company leading the way in research and progress in estrogen biology. Estrigenix was formed in 2018 to develop and commercialize first-in-class therapeutics to treat and prevent symptoms of menopause, including hot flashes and dementia, with fewer side effects than current hormone therapies.
For more information and to learn how Estrigenix is pioneering the way in symptom prevention for menopausal women, visit estrigenix.com.
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Estrigenix Therapeutics is a registered trademark of Estrigenix Therapeutics, Inc.