"Life Biosciences, a biotech company cofounded by Harvard genetics professor David Sinclair, said Wednesday it had secured approval for a Phase 1 clinical trial aiming, in part, to restore vision in people with eye conditions such as glaucoma and non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION) through "partial epigenetic reprogramming." During the trial, researchers will attempt to turn back the biological clock on damaged cells in a person's eye by directly injecting it."
"The company will enroll its first patients over the next couple of months, with results potentially coming by the end of the year or early next year, CEO Jerry McLaughlin told Fortune. McLaughlin, a pharmaceutical industry veteran who previously worked at Merck and at venture-backed biotechs such as Neos Therapeutics and AgeneBio said the approval was groundbreaking: "It's a transformational day, I think, for science overall, for Life Biosciences, for the field of partial epigenetic reprogramming," he said."
"The FDA approval, which McLaughlin said researchers in his industry have been waiting on for years, puts the lean Life Biosciences team (fewer than 20 people) ahead of the pack, as the longevity boom is increasingly being underwritten by billionaire money. Altos Labs, one of the highest-profile bets on cell rejuvenation, launched with $3 billion in funding in 2022 and reportedly counts Amazon founder and the world's fourth-wealthiest person Jeff Bezos as an early backer."
Life Biosciences secured FDA approval to begin a Phase 1 clinical trial using partial epigenetic reprogramming to restore vision in conditions like glaucoma and NAION. The trial will inject therapy directly into the eye to reach damaged retinal ganglion cells and deliver "rejuvenation instructions" aimed at restoring function and potentially reversing vision loss. The company plans to enroll initial patients in the coming months and expects early results by the end of the year or early next year. CEO Jerry McLaughlin called the approval transformational for science and the field. Life Biosciences operates with fewer than 20 employees and gains prominence amid billionaire-backed longevity investments.
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