🧬 Can we reverse aging at the cellular level?

Welcome back to Healthy Innovations! 👋

This week I read a thought-provoking article in BBC Focus Magazine titled "Anti-ageing pills are real, and some of us are taking them without knowing it" that explores recent advances in longevity science.

2025 has been a pivotal year for longevity research, with substantial progress as studies move from promising laboratory results to early clinical validation.

While breakthrough anti-aging therapies aren't quite ready for mainstream use, several key developments show the field is maturing into rigorous medical science. AI is accelerating drug discovery and uncovering surprising connections between disease targets and aging mechanisms. Scientists are also making measurable progress in cellular reprogramming, while biological age testing becomes increasingly accessible.

Let's dive into what's actually working and what these advances mean for the future of aging research.

AI reveals unexpected aging connections

Artificial intelligence is revolutionizing drug discovery in measurable ways, and it's uncovering surprising connections between specific diseases and fundamental aging processes. Insilico Medicine exemplifies this trend with their AI-designed drug candidate INS018_055 (proposed name: rentosertib), which entered clinical trials for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis with safety results published in Nature Biotechnology.

Here's what makes this fascinating: Insilico's AI originally identified TNIK (Traf2- and NCK-interacting kinase) as a target for lung fibrosis, but subsequent research revealed that this protein affects multiple hallmarks of aging including cellular senescence and chronic inflammation. This suggests we may be entering an era where "disease drugs" and "aging drugs" become the same thing.

Recent research published in Aging and Disease showed that TNIK inhibition works as a "senomorphic" agent - instead of destroying senescent cells entirely, it selectively reduces their harmful inflammatory signals while preserving beneficial functions like tumor suppression. While this anti-aging potential remains experimental, it demonstrates how AI can identify unexpected therapeutic opportunities.

The broader AI drug discovery field is showing impressive efficiency gains. AI-designed programs are achieving development timelines of 12-18 months from target identification to preclinical candidates, compared to typical 2.5-4 year timelines, while testing only 60-200 molecules instead of thousands. More than 70% of AI-identified compounds significantly extended lifespan in C. elegans studies, and AI-discovered drugs are achieving 80-90% success rates in Phase I trials versus ~40% for traditional methods.

Chemical time machines show preclinical promise

While AI accelerates drug discovery, wet lab scientists are making remarkable progress in cellular rejuvenation through chemistry. Researchers have identified chemical cocktails that can restore youthful gene expression patterns in aged cells within days, without permanently altering their identity or function.

This chemical approach represents a major evolution from genetic reprogramming methods. Instead of using the four Yamanaka factors (Oct4, Sox2, Klf4, and c-Myc) that require genetic manipulation, these chemical formulations achieve cellular "soft resets" that could potentially be safer for clinical translation.

Scientists at Altos Labs published research showing that targeted partial reprogramming of age-associated cell states successfully extended lifespan in mouse models. While human applications remain years away, the preclinical results are encouraging - some studies suggest these treatments can make old cells exhibit molecular signatures younger than untreated young cells.

The key challenge ahead is translating these remarkable laboratory results into safe, effective human therapies. Nearly two decades after Shinya Yamanaka's Nobel Prize-winning discovery, we're finally seeing pathways toward practical applications of cellular reprogramming technology.

mRNA joins the rejuvenation toolkit

The mRNA platform that delivered COVID-19 vaccines is now being explored for cellular rejuvenation applications. Scientists are investigating whether mRNA can deliver rejuvenation factors directly to cells, with promising early results in laboratory studies.

Researchers have demonstrated that mRNA encoding telomerase can elongate telomeres in cultured human cells, potentially extending cellular lifespan. Companies like Rejuvenation Technologies are developing approaches that could theoretically reverse telomere shortening through transient mRNA delivery - providing cellular renewal benefits without permanent genetic changes.

The beauty of mRNA-based approaches lies in their temporary nature and precision. Unlike permanent genetic modifications, mRNA provides cells with specific instructions for a limited time, potentially reducing safety concerns that have historically plagued anti-aging research.

However, these applications remain largely experimental. While the concept is scientifically sound and early lab results are promising, human clinical trials for mRNA-based rejuvenation therapies are still in planning stages.

Senolytics mature through trial and error

The field targeting senescent "zombie cells" experienced both setbacks and evolution in 2025. Unity Biotechnology, one of the pioneering senolytic companies, wound down major operations despite showing that their UBX1325 therapy led to vision improvements lasting 48 weeks in diabetic eye disease patients.

However, the broader field is evolving toward more sophisticated approaches. The combination of Dasatinib and Quercetin continues showing promise in small clinical trials, with "hit-and-run" treatments demonstrating the ability to reduce senescent cell burden in humans and improve some functional outcomes, including in osteoarthritis.

More importantly, researchers are recognizing that completely eliminating senescent cells isn't always optimal - some serve beneficial functions like tumor suppression and wound healing. This has led to interest in "senomorphic" agents that selectively reduce harmful inflammatory signals from senescent cells while preserving their beneficial functions.

This evolving understanding reflects the field's maturation from simple "clear the zombie cells" approaches to more nuanced strategies that recognize the complexity of cellular aging and the need for balanced interventions.

Serious money signals serious science

Investment in longevity science continues growing, reflecting increased confidence in the field's clinical potential. Retro Biosciences, backed by OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, raised $180 million in 2022 with reports of seeking additional funding to develop drugs that extend human lifespan by 10 years through cellular reprogramming and enhanced autophagy.

Altos Labs, which launched with $3 billion in initial funding, recently appointed Dr. Joan Mannick as Chief Medical Officer. Mannick's extensive experience in aging-focused drug development and clinical trial design suggests the company is preparing to test their cellular rejuvenation research in humans.

This funding surge reflects a fundamental shift from speculative investment toward supporting companies with clear scientific rationales, experienced leadership, and measurable preclinical progress. The longevity biotech sector is maturing alongside the science itself.

Biological age testing enters the mainstream

Epigenetic clocks that measure biological aging are becoming increasingly accessible to consumers and researchers. These tests analyze DNA methylation patterns that change predictably with age, providing insights into biological age that can differ significantly from chronological age.

While early epigenetic clocks required hundreds of methylation sites for accuracy, researchers are developing simplified approaches. However, there's an inevitable trade-off between accessibility and precision - the most accurate biological age estimates still require comprehensive analysis of multiple biomarkers.

Direct-to-consumer epigenetic age tests are now available from several companies, allowing individuals to track their biological aging and potentially measure the effectiveness of lifestyle interventions. While these tests provide interesting insights, their clinical utility for guiding individual health decisions is still being established.

The democratization of biological age testing represents an important step toward making aging research more accessible, even as the field works to improve the accuracy and clinical relevance of these measurements.

For the first time in human history, we're not just dreaming about defeating aging - we're building the scientific infrastructure to actually do it, one validated experiment at a time.

Innovation highlights

🧬 AI skips biology class. Chan Zuckerberg Initiative's new rBio AI model lets scientists ask biology questions in plain English and get answers without stepping foot in a lab. Instead of expensive experiments, it uses virtual cell simulations trained on 112 million cells from 12 species. This breakthrough could flip research from 90% lab work to 90% computational, potentially accelerating drug discovery from decades to years. The best part? It's completely free and open-source for researchers worldwide.

🦹🏼 Cancer's superpower revoked. Northwestern researchers discovered cancer's secret weapon isn't just mutations - it's cellular memory stored in chromatin structure that helps tumors adapt to treatments. Instead of attacking cancer directly, they used celecoxib (an existing arthritis drug) to scramble this "memory," making cells forget how to resist chemotherapy. The combo doubled treatment effectiveness in mice and could allow lower chemo doses with fewer brutal side effects.

🩻 AI's X-ray vision. Researchers trained AI to spot prostate cancer in tissue samples that pathologists had already declared cancer-free. The AI detected subtle changes in over 80% of biopsies from men who later developed aggressive cancer within 2.5 years. This "missed study" could help identify high-risk patients who need regular screening, potentially catching cancer before it becomes visible to human eyes and enabling earlier intervention.

Cool tool

📖 Dotary is a braille e-book concept device that makes reading accessible and enjoyable for visually impaired individuals. It uses AI-powered technology to translate digital text into braille in real time, giving users instant access to a wide range of books - from novels to textbooks - without requiring special editions. For those not fluent in braille, Dotary also offers voice support, expanding its usability.

The device features a sleek aluminum body, soft silicone buttons for tactile navigation, and high-visibility yellow LED feedback. It's compact, lightweight, and thoughtfully designed with a refreshable braille display that provides a satisfying tactile reading experience. Beyond just reading, Dotary includes an educational mode to help users learn and master braille, addressing the widespread issue of braille illiteracy in the visually impaired community.

Dotary's potential social impact is significant, making books more accessible, portable, and enjoyable while creating new opportunities for education, cultural participation, and personal growth. Its human-centered design and advanced technology represent a major improvement over traditional braille books and generic e-readers, demonstrating how inclusive design can empower everyone.

Company to watch

🧬 Beam Therapeutics is pioneering the future of precision genetic medicine through base editing, a breakthrough technology that makes exact DNA changes without the double-strand breaks of traditional CRISPR.

Their lead program BEAM-101 targets sickle cell disease and beta-thalassemia by converting hemoglobin genes to a fetal form that reduces disease symptoms. With strong progress in hematology and genetic disease franchises, Beam recently outlined key 2025 catalysts that position them at the forefront of next-generation gene editing.

As base editing gains traction as a safer, more precise alternative to conventional genome editing, Beam's approach offers the potential to treat genetic diseases with unprecedented accuracy and reduced off-target effects.

Weird and wonderful

🤖🤰 Pregnancy robots: When fake news meets real science. This week's viral sensation was a supposedly revolutionary "pregnancy robot" from China that could carry babies from conception to birth for just $13,900. The chrome-plated bot featured a pregnant belly, visible wiring, and zero mammary glands - because apparently, whoever designed this fake story forgot babies need milk.

Multiple outlets ran with the tale before fact-checkers revealed the "researcher" doesn't exist and no such technology is in development. However, the hoax sparked fascinating discussions about real artificial womb research.

Scientists are actually developing devices like CHOP's EXTEND system to support extremely premature babies, though experts agree a full pregnancy robot faces mind-boggling challenges - from preventing infections over nine months to recreating the complex dance of hormones, nutrients, and immune protection that makes human pregnancy "what a miracle" it truly is.

Thank you for reading the Healthy Innovations newsletter!

Keep an eye out for next week’s issue, where I will highlight the healthcare innovations you need to know about.

Have a great week!

Alison ✨

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