In this episode of The Pauling Principle, host Javier speaks with Dr. Matthew O’Connor, co-founder and CEO of Cyclarity Therapeutics, about tackling cardiovascular disease through novel drug discovery. They discuss his career path in longevity science, the innovative use of cyclodextrins to remove toxic cholesterol, and the broader vision of repairing age-related damage to radically extend healthy lifespan.

Key Points:

Matthew O’Connor and Cyclarity are pioneering therapies that target the root molecular damage behind cardiovascular disease, with potential to extend healthy lifespan. By combining innovation in drug design with everyday preventive habits, the future of longevity looks both radical and practical.

• From Passion to Purpose: Since age 16, O’Connor has dedicated his life to solving aging. His path led from academic research on cell senescence and muscle aging, through leadership at SENS Research Foundation, to founding Cyclarity Therapeutics in 2019.
• Reframing Cardiovascular Disease: O’Connor views heart disease not just as a medical condition but as a manifestation of aging damage. His company’s therapy aims to remove oxidized cholesterol—“the really bad cholesterol”—to both prevent atherosclerosis and slow aging.
• Cyclodextrin-Based Innovation: Cyclarity’s approach uses engineered cyclodextrins, ring-shaped sugar molecules, to tightly bind and remove oxidized cholesterol without harming healthy cholesterol. Unlike antibodies, these molecules are designed to act quickly, clear safely, and avoid immune complications.
• Shifting from “Sick Care” to Maintenance: O’Connor stresses the need to move from reactive medicine—treating heart attacks after they occur—to preventive “maintenance medicine,” akin to changing a car’s oil before the engine fails.
• Aging as Damage Accumulation: Rather than debating whether aging is “programmed,” O’Connor focuses on removing accumulated molecular damage (oxidized cholesterol, plaques, amyloid, senescent cells) as a pragmatic path to healthier, longer lives.
• Lifestyle Still Matters: While cutting-edge drugs are in development, O’Connor emphasizes proven fundamentals: diet, exercise, sleep, avoiding smoking and excess alcohol, plus monitoring biomarkers like blood pressure, grip strength, and walking speed.