The quest for the fountain of youth is not just the subject of legends and movies. In reality, humans are obsessed with anti-ageing, with a breakthrough in research that might give many a reason to rejoice. A revolutionary anti-ageing pill that has reportedly extended the life of a 12-year-old cancer stricken German Shepherd is gaining attention as it heads toward human trials in 2025.
A New Frontier in Anti-Aging Medicine
The news of a hopeful anti-ageing pill called Telomir-1 was shared on Platform X by millionaire Bryan Johnson, a man obsessed with researching ways to slow down ageing. Johnson, a tech entrepreneur well known for his anti-ageing pursuits, has been showcasing the new pill on social media. Johnson has often been in the social media limelight, sharing his anti-aging diet and spending millions on various projects to make him look younger.
How Does the Pill Work?
The research, as claimed by Johnson, is a study by Cleveland Clinic in partnership with Telomir Pharmaceuticals. What the pill does is it lengthens telomere caps on stem cells. The telomeres shorten as humans age and cause age-related problems. “If you can increase telomeres, you can reproduce stem cells and keep repairing things so you can literally get younger,” Dr. Michael Roizen from Cleveland Clinic told ABC7 News.
What Are Telomeres, And How Do They Affect Ageing
Telomeres are protective caps at the ends of chromosomes that prevent DNA from deteriorating or fusing with neighboring chromosomes. They naturally shorten each time a cell divides, which is associated with ageing. As telomeres become too short, cells lose their ability to divide and function properly, leading to ageing and age-related diseases. Telomere length is thus considered a marker of biological ageing, and maintaining their size is critical in anti-ageing research to extend lifespan and potentially improve health.
Success with Zeus
A trial of the new pill was conducted on Zeus, a 12-year-old German Shepherd suffering from arthritis and cancer. The study reported how, after six months, Zeus showed considerable progress in health, with the cancer in complete remission. Speaking to news agencies, the dog’s caretaker, Marsha Paunce, said, “We have watched him get better and better and better.”
The Developers: Telomir Pharmaceuticals and Cleveland Clinic
Dr. Christopher Chapman, CEO of Telomir Pharmaceuticals, in collaboration with Dr. Michael Roizen from the Cleveland Clinic, spearheaded the development of this drug. Telomir is a pre-clinical stage pharmaceutical company engaged in longevity science in both humans and dogs. Telomir-1 is the company’s latest project for which they are extremely hopeful.
Human Trials In 2025
As per reports, the drug has also cured two other dogs of severe disease. However, details have not been shared about their condition. The drug will possibly progress to human trials in 2025 with no shortage of human volunteers, especially after Bryan Johnsons’ post on X, which garnered over 350,00 views and counting.
A New Pill Being Explored to Increase Longevity in Dogs
In a similar breakthrough, which is good news for dog lovers, LOYAL, a biotech company in San Francisco, is conducting clinical trials for a drug aimed at extending dogs’ lifespans. Founder and CEO Celine Halioua, inspired by the shorter lifespans of larger dogs compared to smaller breeds, developed LOY-1, a drug targeting the insulin-like growth factor (IGF-1) to slow ageing. The drug aims to correct genetic issues from inbreeding, providing large dogs with more healthy years. The injectable medication would be administered by veterinarians every 3-6 months, starting at age seven, for dogs over 40 pounds.
How Does Loy-1 Work?
The drug interacts with insulin growth factor-1 (IGF-1), a hormone linked to both growth and accelerated ageing in dogs. Research indicates that dogs with lower IGF-1 levels tend to experience less frailty and a higher quality of life. IGF-1 levels are naturally higher in larger dogs, contributing to their shorter lifespans compared to smaller breeds. The drug aims to reduce IGF-1 levels, potentially slowing down the ageing process and extending the healthy years of larger dogs.
Ethical Considerations and Public Debate
The news of the human anti-ageing pill Telomir-1 has ignited a debate on the ethical implications of anti-ageing medicine, with opinions divided on its moral and societal impacts. However, trials are all set to commence in 2025, marking a significant milestone in the journey to extend human lifespan potentially.
Potential Impact on Healthcare
If successful, this pill could revolutionize healthcare, reducing age-related diseases and possibly changing the way we approach ageing. As the world watches in anticipation, the upcoming human trials of this longevity pill could be the beginning of a new era in medicine, with the potential to redefine ageing as we know it. What do you think? Would an anti-ageing pill extending human life be progressive or degressive for society at large? Tell us in the comments below.
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