[Reading Science] A Single Injection Made a Mouse Younger

Amazing Paper from US Bio Startup
First Successful Experiment Extending Animal Lifespan Using Gene Reprogramming Therapy
Remaining Lifespan Doubled...Attention on Potential Application to Humans
"Not Verified, High Risks Including Cancer Concerns" Also Raised

Mouse. Not related to the article. Photo source: YouTube screen capture

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Bong-su] An era of rejuvenation with a single injection is approaching. A U.S. bio startup has succeeded in an experiment suggesting the possibility of extending human lifespan through gene reprogramming therapy. They injected gene therapy into experimental mice and succeeded in more than doubling their lifespan. This marks a step beyond laboratory cell-level research, opening the possibility that applying this to humans could restore youth with just one injection.

Rejuvenate Bio, a biotech company based in San Diego, California, USA, published a paper with these findings on the preprint site BioRxiv on the 5th.

The technology to reprogram genes to revert cells to a youthful state has attracted great interest from those seeking health and lifespan extension, leading to billions of dollars in recent investments and active research. While single-cell level studies in the lab have shown potential, there had been no experimental results demonstrating that this technology works in living animals. If these experimental results are verified and confirmed as true, it could serve as evidence that gene reprogramming for animal lifespan extension, long anticipated by scientists, is indeed possible.

The research team injected gene reprogramming drugs three times into the bodies of old mice equivalent to about 77 years old in human age and compared them with a control group. The results showed that the gene reprogramming drug injections doubled the mice's lifespan. Mice that did not receive the injections died on average after 9 weeks, while those that did lived an average of 18 weeks. The dream of life extension is becoming a reality. Overall, the lifespan of injected mice increased by about 7%. While wild mice typically live around one year, laboratory mice can live 2 to 3 years. The mice injected by the research team had already survived about 124 weeks and had little remaining lifespan.

Nora Davidson, Chief Scientific Officer (CSO) of the company, explained, "This study shows that the age of the (injected) animals was reversed," adding, "We wanted to show what can be done for the elderly, and the concept has been proven with powerful technology."

However, concerns remain. Scientists warn that although the experimental results are interesting, research on lifespan extension through gene reprogramming is still risky. For example, there are concerns that gene reprogramming could induce cancer.