Sierra Sciences
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Biotechnology |
| Founded | 1999 |
| Founder | William H. Andrews |
| Headquarters | Reno , United States |
Key people | William H. Andrews (President and CEO), Dan Fylstra (former President), Richard Offerdahl (former Chairman and COO), Pierluigi Zappacosta (former President and CEO, Co-Chairman) |
| Products | Pharmaceuticals targeting activation of hTERT gene to combat aging |
| Website | www |
Sierra Sciences, LLC is a biotechnology firm established in 1999 by William H. Andrews, who previously served as the director of molecular biology at Geron Corporation. Located in Reno, Nevada, the organization dedicates its efforts to halting and reversing cellular aging processes to combat diseases associated with human senescence.
Background
Human aging is linked to the progressive shortening of telomeres, which are repetitive DNA sequences found at chromosome termini. These sequences diminish with each cellular division until cells reach the "Hayflick limit" and cease to proliferate. The enzyme telomerase has the capability to elongate telomeres by adding DNA repeats, yet its activity is largely confined to embryonic stem cells and certain other cell types, while most somatic cells suppress its function.
During his tenure at Geron Corporation, Andrews was instrumental in identifying both the RNA component (hTR) and the protein component (hTERT) of human telomerase—milestones that significantly advanced telomere research. These contributions led to his recognition as a runner-up for "National Inventor of the Year" in 1997. Although the hTERT gene is present in all human cells, it remains inactive in the majority.
After departing Geron in 1997, Andrews founded Sierra Sciences with the objective of creating pharmaceuticals that activate the silenced hTERT gene, aiming to develop treatments addressing aging and related medical conditions.
Company history
At its founding, Sierra Sciences was led by President Dan Fylstra, known for founding VisiCorp. In 2002, Richard Offerdahl—co-founder of Zycad Corporation and former Digi International director—assumed the role of Chairman of the Board. By 2003, Offerdahl advanced to COO, while Pierluigi Zappacosta, Logitech’s co-founder, was appointed President and CEO.
In 2008, Bill Andrews took on the roles of President and CEO; concurrently, Zappacosta transitioned to Co-Chairman and Vice President of Business Development. Early in 2016, Andrews announced a partnership with BioViva to establish BioViva FIJI, intended as a pioneering gene therapy clinic targeting biological aging in humans; however, this initiative was blocked by Fijian regulatory authorities.
Discoveries
Sierra Sciences pinpointed crucial repressor binding sites that inhibit telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) expression: "Site C" identified in 2001 (patented in 2004) and "GC-Box 5" discovered in 2004 (patented in 2007). By 2005, the company had developed assays enabling efficient screening for compounds that counteract hTERT suppression.
In 2007, they uncovered "C0057684," a small molecule capable of inducing telomerase expression in human cells. Building on this discovery, Sierra Sciences established a quantitative PCR-based high-throughput screening assay in 2008 to detect compounds that stimulate endogenous telomerase activity. Since then, over fifty such candidate drugs have been found and are currently being analyzed to elucidate their mechanisms.