In a significant development in the field of age reversal, Life Biosciences has received FDA approval to initiate the first human trials using a novel rejuvenation technique called reprogramming. This announcement follows a conversation between Elon Musk and Harvard professor David Sinclair at the recent World Economic Forum in Davos, where they discussed the potential for reversing aging. Sinclair, a prominent advocate for life extension, echoed Musk’s sentiments about the simplicity of understanding aging and hinted at the upcoming trials, specifically targeting glaucoma patients.
The treatment involves injecting viruses carrying three reprogramming genes into the eyes of roughly a dozen individuals suffering from glaucoma, a condition characterized by elevated eye pressure that can damage the optic nerve. This approach seeks to restore cells to a more youthful state by resetting the epigenetic controls that determine gene activity. While the reprogramming technique has shown promise in animal studies, it also carries risks, including the potential for tumor development. To mitigate these dangers, the reprogramming genes will be activated only when patients are taking a low dose of doxycycline, an antibiotic, for a short duration during the trial.
Michael Ringel, COO of Life Biosciences, described the trial as a pivotal moment in the quest for age reversal, marking the first time humanity has attempted a targeted rejuvenation intervention. Although the concept of reprogramming cells draws on Nobel Prize-winning discoveries regarding stem cell behavior, experts remain cautious. Critics have previously highlighted Sinclair’s ambitious claims about age reversal technologies, but the potential implications of this trial could pave the way for future advancements in regenerative medicine. As the trial commences, the scientific community watches closely, hopeful that it might lead to breakthroughs in treating age-related conditions.
Source: The first human test of a rejuvenation method will begin “shortly” via MIT Technology Review