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For consumers, the idea behind Insilico's latest drug research is enticing: a new drug that could reverse biological aging. The artificial intelligence biotech company and academic researchers published a small study in Nature Biotechnology (Sept. 7) showing that rentosertib, a drug developed for pulmonary fibrosis, appeared to reverse aging in a small group of patients.
Insilico, which uses AI to develop potential new drugs, previously tested rentosertib in an early-stage trial on patients in China with pulmonary fibrosis. The new study analyzed blood samples from the same group of patients to test longevity. Researchers used six 'aging clocks' to measure molecular proteins in blood samples, predicting lower biological age and reduced mortality risk among 42 patients who received the drug. Zhavoronkov, founder and CEO of Insilico, explained that the drug reduced biological age by three to four years, with a maximum reduction of six years.
The study’s significance lies in suggesting AI-driven drug development could lead to repurposed treatments for aging. However, experts note that rentosertib has only been tested in patients with pulmonary fibrosis, leaving unknowns about its potential in healthy individuals. Evelyne Bischof, a Tel Aviv University professor, emphasized the study’s importance in exploring new ways to extend healthspan beyond lifestyle changes or supplements.
Insilico is now studying rentosertib in a larger clinical trial for pulmonary fibrosis in China. The company also researches over 40 investigational drugs for chronic diseases like Parkinson’s, cardiovascular conditions, and cancer, while exploring their potential anti-aging properties. Zhavoronkov acknowledged that no drug currently extends life in optimized individuals, but the research opens new avenues for longevity research.
Source: USA Today
