This podcast episode features Dr. Matthew O'Connor, founder of Cyclarity Therapeutics. He discuss advancements in cyclodextrin-based drugs aimed at combating age-related cardiovascular diseases and broader applications in ageing research.

Key Points:

The podcast emphasizes a promising future for ageing therapies, with cyclodextrin drugs potentially impacting both heart health and overall ageing science. Dr. O'Connor's work highlights how close the field is to transformative treatments, bringing hope to ageing intervention research.

• Cyclodextrin-Based Drug Development: Cyclarity Therapeutics, led by Dr. O'Connor, has developed a novel cyclodextrin drug aimed at selectively targeting and removing toxic oxidized cholesterol, specifically 7-ketocholesterol, from the body.
• Manufacturing Milestone: The drug has successfully moved from laboratory research to production at a kilogram scale, progressing to Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) standards in preparation for clinical trials.
• FDA Regulatory Progress: The familiarity of regulators with cyclodextrins is helping streamline the approval process, potentially accelerating the drug’s path to human trials, which are expected to begin by mid-next year.
• Platform Technology Potential: While focusing on cardiovascular disease, cyclodextrin derivatives may also target other age-related molecules and toxic substances, paving the way for broader therapeutic applications.
• Broader Longevity Research Trends: Dr. O'Connor expresses enthusiasm for other emerging anti-ageing fields, including senolytics, mitochondrial therapies, and glucose cross-link breaking drugs, all aiming to address cellular and molecular damage linked to ageing.
• Future Prospects in Rejuvenation: With more investment and innovation in longevity, therapies like Cyclarity's cyclodextrin drug could reveal fundamental insights into ageing processes and offer novel methods for disease prevention and healthspan extension.