An American company tested an anti-aging drug
American biotechnology company Life Biosciences has taken a historic step by obtaining permission to conduct clinical trials of the ER-100 drug on humans. This was reported by Zamin.uz.
This drug uses a mechanism to revert cells to a youthful state, and such an experiment is being conducted on humans for the first time in modern medicine. Contemporary scientific research shows that the main cause of the aging process is not DNA damage, but epigenetic changes.
These are changes in the regulatory system between active and inactive states of genes. Over time, these changes accumulate, disrupting normal cell function and reducing their ability to regenerate.
In 2006, Shinya Yamanaka discovered that by reactivating four genes—Oct4, Sox2, Klf4, and c-Myc—in mature cells, they could be reverted to an embryonic-like state. This discovery earned the scientist a Nobel Prize.
Later, Yamanaka proved that when only part of the Yamanaka factors are activated and protein production in the cell is controlled, the cell can be rejuvenated without fully reverting to a stem cell. This method is called epigenetic reprogramming.
Due to the increased risk of cancer associated with the c-Myc factor, currently mainly the OSK factors—Oct4, Sox2, and Klf4—are used. In 2020, experiments at the Garpard Medical Faculty showed that activating OSK factors in the optic nerves of mice could restore a youthful epigenetic state.
As a result, damaged neural networks were restored, and the mice's vision significantly improved. This data forms the basis of the ER-100 treatment method developed by Life Biosciences.
This gene therapy temporarily activates OSK factors in optic nerve cells to rejuvenate the cells and restore only epigenetic parameters. Previously, such experiments were conducted on mice, primates, and laboratory models.
This trial creates opportunities for effective treatment of human health and anti-aging, promising to usher in a new era in biotechnology and medicine in the future. Scientists hope that this achievement will open new possibilities for extending human lifespan and preventing various diseases.
