FDA go-ahead to test cellular rejuvenation therapy in humans

The first therapy aimed at reversing the diseases of aging through cellular rejuvenation is about to begin clinical trials. Life Biosciences has received clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for a Phase 1 trial to test its partial epigenetic reprogramming approach in people with eye disease.

Life Biosciences’ ER-100 is a gene therapy that uses a modified adeno-associated viral vector to deliver genes encoding the transcription factors OCT-4, SOX-2 and KLF-4 (three of the four so-called Yamanaka factors used to reprogram adult cells into stem cells). By applying controlled expression of the three genes, the company aims to restore methylation patterns and test whether partial cellular reprogramming can return aged or damaged cells to a younger state.