Reprogramming cells to reverse aging gains traction in biotech

Life Biosciences, a biotech company focused on reversing age-related diseases, announced that it had dosed its first volunteer with an experimental treatment. A person with glaucoma received an injection of the treatment straight into their eyeball. The goal is to treat the disease by regenerating healthy nerves in the eye.

David Sinclair, chairman and co-founder of the company, hopes that if the treatment can reverse glaucoma, similar treatments might reverse other diseases of aging, and possibly even aging itself. The approach involves 'reprogramming' cells to a younger state, one of many strategies biotech companies are exploring to slow and reverse aging. This method appears to be gaining significant traction.

Aging is a complex process, with numerous changes occurring across biological systems. In 2013, a team published a paper describing nine 'hallmarks of aging,' which have been targeted by scientists. However, some targets have fallen in and out of favor over the years.

Telomere attrition, for example, was once a popular target. Telomeres are DNA sequences at the ends of chromosomes that shorten as cells divide. When I started reporting on aging, telomere shortening was a major focus, linked to age-related diseases of the heart and brain.

In 2017, Liz Parrish, CEO of BioViva, injected herself with an experimental gene therapy to lengthen her telomeres. However, interest in this area seems to have waned. Another hallmark, cellular senescence, occurs when cells stop dividing but don't die, entering a 'zombie' state that can cause inflammation.

Senescent cells accumulate in organs, contributing to age-related damage. Researchers have explored clearing these cells, with promising results in mice. However, human trials by Unity Biotechnology yielded disappointing results, and the company has since shut down.

Currently, the buzz is around reprogramming, which involves returning cells to a young state. This approach is based on the Nobel Prize-winning discovery that four genetic factors can turn an adult cell into a stem cell. Studies in mice suggest that reprogramming might improve tissue healing, restore vision, and enhance learning and memory.

Significant funding has been pouring into this research. In 2021, Altos Labs was founded with $3 billion in funding from billionaire Yuri Milner, reportedly along with Jeff Bezos. Other well-funded companies, such as Retro Biosciences and NewLimit, are also exploring reprogramming.

Life Biosciences, founded by David Sinclair, recently secured $80 million to support its research. Why this matters: The pursuit of cellular reprogramming to reverse aging has significant implications for the biotech industry and human health. If successful, this approach could lead to treatments for various age-related diseases, potentially improving the quality of life for millions of people.