Sierra Sciences is a leading company in the field of telomere length measurement and analysis. Founded in 1999, Sierra Sciences has been at the forefront of telomere research for over two decades.
Their mission is to understand the biology of aging and to develop treatments to prevent or reverse the aging process. This ambitious goal is driven by the company's founder, Paul Lauterbur, a Nobel Prize laureate in chemistry.
Sierra Sciences has developed a proprietary technology to measure telomere length, which is a key indicator of biological age. This technology has been used in various studies to assess the effects of aging and age-related diseases.
The company's research has shown that telomere length is a strong predictor of mortality and age-related diseases, such as cancer and cardiovascular disease.
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Financial Information
Sierra Sciences' annual revenue was $5.9 million in 2025.
The company has reported this revenue figure publicly, giving us a glimpse into its financial health.
This revenue figure is a significant indicator of the company's financial stability and growth.
It's worth noting that this figure is specific to the year 2025 and may not reflect the company's current financial situation.
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Industry Classification
Sierra Sciences can be classified under various industry codes. The NAICS codes for Sierra Sciences are 5417, 541, 54, 54171, and 541713.
These codes indicate that Sierra Sciences operates in the scientific and technical services industry. The NAICS code 5417 specifically refers to research and development in the physical, engineering, and life sciences.
The SIC codes for Sierra Sciences are 873 and 87.
NAICS Code Meaning
The NAICS code is a six-digit number that classifies businesses by industry.
NAICS codes are used by the US Census Bureau to categorize businesses for statistical purposes.
A NAICS code can be broken down into two parts: the first two digits represent the major industry group, and the remaining four digits represent the specific industry.
For example, the NAICS code 5417 for Sierra Sciences represents the Information sector, which is a major industry group.
The specific NAICS codes for Sierra Sciences are 5417, 541, 54, 54171, and 541713, which provide more detailed information about the company's industry classification.
NAICS codes are essential for businesses to understand their industry classification, which can impact tax obligations, government regulations, and market research.
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SIC Code Meaning
The SIC code is a crucial part of industry classification, and it's used to identify the primary business activity of a company.
The SIC code for Sierra Sciences is 873, which is also known as a specific industry code.
Companies like Sierra Sciences often have multiple SIC codes, which can include related or secondary business activities, such as 87.
Understanding SIC codes is essential for businesses to accurately classify themselves and comply with regulatory requirements.
Knowing your SIC code can also help you identify potential competitors and partners within the same industry.
The SIC code is a standardized system used by the government to categorize businesses, making it easier to access data and statistics.
In some cases, a company may have multiple SIC codes, such as Sierra Sciences, which has codes 873 and 87.
Discoveries and Research
In 2001, Sierra Sciences discovered a repressor binding site that blocks the expression of telomerase reverse transcriptase, which was patented in 2004.
This discovery was a significant breakthrough in understanding how telomerase is regulated in the body.
Sierra Sciences discovered another repressor bind site, "GC-Box 5", in 2004, which was patented in 2007.
The company developed methods to efficiently check a variety of compounds to see if they inhibit repression of hTERT in 2005.
This allowed Sierra Sciences to identify compounds that could potentially activate telomerase expression.
In 2007, the company discovered a small-molecule drug-like compound, "C0057684", that activates telomerase expression in human cells.
Using C0057684 as a positive control, Sierra Sciences developed a high-throughput screening assay to more efficiently screen for compounds that induce telomerase expression.
The company has identified more than fifty such drugs and is characterizing their mechanism of action.
Sierra Sciences has made significant progress in understanding how to maintain chromosomal integrity using compounds.
Telomeres are repeated sequences of DNA at the end of all our chromosomes, serving as caps that protect our genes.
These endpoint nucleotides grow shorter as we grow older.
On November 6th, 2007, Sierra Sciences found its first telomerase inducing chemical, called C0057684.
This chemical is the first ever discovered by Sierra Sciences that activates the telomerase enzyme gene without killing the cells.
C0057684 has provided Sierra Sciences with the first positive control ever for detection of telomerase gene activity in normal human cells.
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People and Leadership
At Sierra Sciences, you'll find a team of experts dedicated to reversing telomere shortening. Dr. William H. Andrews is the President and CEO, with a 28-year career in the biotech industry as a cancer researcher. He led the research that discovered human telomerase while Director of Molecular Biology at Geron Corporation from 1993-1997.
Dr. Laura A. Briggs is the Vice President of Research and Discovery, with over 15 years of experience in medical research, including 11 years as a key scientist at Sierra Sciences. She received her Ph.D. in Environmental Science and Health from the University of Nevada, Reno.
The team also includes Lancer K. Brown, the Program Director of Screening, who is a co-inventor of Sierra Sciences' assays for telomerase activation. He distinguished himself by being the first student to complete the University of Nevada, Reno's inaugural Advanced BS/MS Biotechnology Program in 2003.
Federico Gaeta, the Vice President of Medicinal Chemistry, earned his Ph.D. in Chemistry and Organic Synthesis at Rice University. He directed the efforts to identify the first potent small-molecule inhibitors of human telomerase while at Geron Corporation.
Here's an overview of the team's experience and qualifications:
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