Life Biosciences Initiates Human Trial for Glaucoma Using Cellular Reprogramming

Life Biosciences, a biotech company focused on reversing age-related diseases, announced earlier this week that it had dosed its first human volunteer. The experimental treatment was injected into the eyeball of a person with glaucoma, a condition known to cause vision loss.

The primary goal of this trial is to regenerate healthy nerves in the eye to treat glaucoma. David Sinclair, chairman and cofounder of Life Biosciences, expressed a broader vision: if this treatment proves effective for glaucoma, similar approaches could potentially reverse other age-related diseases and possibly aging entirely. The method employed is designed to "reprogram" cells to a younger state.

Cellular reprogramming is gaining significant attention in the field of aging research, standing out among various strategies explored by biotech companies. This approach is rooted in the Nobel Prize-winning discovery that specific genetic factors can transform adult cells into stem cells, which can then differentiate into various cell types.

Previous research in mice has shown promising results for reprogramming, including improvements in tissue healing, vision restoration, and enhanced learning and memory. This area of research has also attracted substantial investment, with hundreds of millions of dollars in funding. For example, Altos Labs was founded in 2021, reportedly with funding from billionaire Yuri Milner, to pursue reprogramming for rejuvenation.

Past strategies in aging research have included targeting telomere attrition and cellular senescence. Telomere shortening, once a major focus, involves DNA sequences at chromosome ends linked to age-related diseases. Cellular senescence, where 'zombie cells' accumulate and cause inflammation, also saw trials. While mouse studies showed promise in delaying age-related conditions, human trials by Unity Biotechnology for osteoarthritis and an age-related eye condition yielded disappointing results, leading to the company's closure.

According to MIT Technology Review, the current excitement in the aging and longevity community is largely centered on the reprogramming approach.