Medicine is going through a historic moment: for the first time, a person received an experimental therapy designed to rejuvenate aged cells by activating specific genes.
The trial, developed by Life Biosciences in the United States, attempts to demonstrate whether it is possible to regenerate optic nerve neurons —that is, the cells that connect the eye to the brain— in patients with advanced glaucoma, a disease that can lead to blindness and for which, until now, there are no treatments capable of repairing the damage
The breakthrough was cited by Dr. Eric Topol, one of the leading authorities on healthy aging, who wrote on the X network: “The first participant to receive partial cellular reprogramming for an eye disease (advanced glaucoma) in a 12-patient pilot study has been treated. Using 3 of the 4 Yamanaka stem cell factors to potentially achieve cellular rejuvenation”.
According to the journal Nature, Life Biosciences has initiated the first human clinical study using a technique called partial genetic reprogramming, a method to make aged cells behave as if they were young again.
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The clinical trial seeks to regenerate optic nerve neurons in patients with advanced glaucoma (Europa Press)
The procedure consists of activating three genes associated with the so-called Yamanaka factors, known because they can return properties similar to those of young cells to adult cells. In other words, they seek for cells to recover energy and functions that they had lost over time. This intervention was tested on a group of people with advanced glaucoma, with the hope that their optic nerve neurons—which in adults do not recover if damaged—will function again.
From basic research to human trials
This development has its origin in the results obtained in 2020 by David Sinclair‘s laboratory at Harvard Medical School. When they activated these three genes in mice with optic nerve injuries, the neurons managed to reconnect and the animals regained part of their vision. Later, Life Biosciences tested the technique on monkeys and mice without recording serious side effects, according to Sharon Rosenzweig-Lipson, chief scientific officer.
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The central goal of the trial is to ensure that the technique is safe. This means that scientists are seeking to verify that this method does not cause serious problems, such as the appearance of cancer cells —that is, that the cells do not begin to grow uncontrollably—. Matt Kaeberlein, co-founder of Optispan, warned: “The technology is at a very early stage, and the potential for serious side effects is high”. The eye was chosen as the place to test the therapy because any problems there can be detected and controlled more easily than in other organs. The main objective is to verify if the technique can restore lost functions in cells damaged by aging (Illustrative Image Infobae)
New horizons: towards whole-body rejuvenation
While Life Biosciences focuses on eye treatment, other initiatives seek to apply epigenetic reprogramming throughout the organism, which means they will attempt to test whether it is possible to rejuvenate not just one part, but the entire body.
According to MIT Technology Review, David Sinclair is planning a trial in which an oral therapy, in the form of pills, would be administered, combining several drugs and supplements. The goal is to achieve a general rejuvenation effect, meaning it would benefit all organs and tissues. This project is part of the XPrize Healthspan competition, which will reward teams that manage to improve indicators such as immunity, memory, and muscle strength by at least ten years after one year of treatment.
Sinclair’s proposal stands out because it seeks a global effect through a chemical preparation called SL-100, the exact components of which are secret. In other words, they are trying to achieve the same results as gene therapy, but using drugs and supplements. In animal experiments, finding the right dose became complicated: if they use too little, there is no effect, and if they use too much, it can be dangerous, as explained by Vadim Gladyshev, a Harvard researcher participating in the same competition.
Scientific challenges and how to know if we are really rejuvenating
One of the major problems is that there are still no clear and universal criteria for measuring rejuvenation in humans. Jamie Justice, director of the XPrize competition, explained to MIT Technology Review that part of the challenge lies in developing global standards that allow scientists and authorities to reliably verify whether these treatments work. The procedure is based on the activation of three specific genes related to cellular youth (Illustrative Image Infobae)
Meanwhile, aging medicine is under global scrutiny. Companies like NewLimit, funded by private investors, are working on genetic reprogramming therapies for organs such as the liver, meaning they seek to repair damage in specific parts of the body. The rise of this sector has spurred collaboration between specialists from different fields, such as biologists, physicians, and artificial intelligence experts. Despite the advances, the scientific community maintains a cautious stance until there is solid evidence regarding safety and efficacy in humans.
The application of the first partial genetic reprogramming therapy in a person represents a milestone for treating diseases related to aging. Now it remains to wait for the results of these trials to know if science is truly close to slowing down cellular aging and improving the lives of millions of people.
In this context, aging medicine is under global scrutiny. Companies like NewLimit, backed by private investors, are working on genetic reprogramming therapies for organs such as the liver. The growth of the sector has spurred collaboration between biologists, physicians, and artificial intelligence experts, but the scientific community maintains a cautious stance until conclusive data on safety and efficacy in humans exist.
The administration of the first partial genetic reprogramming therapy in a person represents a milestone that could transform the approach to age-related degenerative diseases. The results of ongoing trials will determine if science is close to offering real solutions to slow down cellular aging and improve the quality of life for millions of people.
