Key points from article :
Kevin Strange presented at Ending Age-Related Diseases 2019.
Developing small molecules that restore the body’s ability to regenerate.
Human regenerative capacity reduces with age.
Foetuses have remarkable abilities.
Infants are able to regenerate their heart.
Some organs better than others - the liver can regenerate fully if only 25% remaining.
Regeneration requires many processes to coordinate – not just stem cells.
Lead drug candidate MSI-1436 (trodusquemine) aimed at reversing ischemic heart injury.
In mice, doesn’t just prevent further injury, reduces scarring by 50%.
6 fold stimulation in cardiomyocyte cell cycle activity.
Reduces heart enlargement in DMD (Duchenne muscular dystrophy) mouse-model
Also improved grip strength and muscle structure.
MSI-1436 inhibits Protein Tyrosine Phosphatase 1B (PTP1B) to stop it inhibiting RTK signalling.
Activates repair of multiple tissue types in diverse animal models.
Safe in Phase 1 trials.
