At the Longevity Summit Dublin 2024, Andy Lee, co-founder of Vincere Biosciences, delivered an insightful talk focusing on mitophagy—the body's mechanism to recycle damaged mitochondria. His research aims to enhance this process through new drug therapies, holding potential to slow ageing and treat neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson's and Alzheimer's. The summit gathered leading minds in the longevity field to explore cutting-edge innovations aimed at extending healthspan and lifespan.

Key Points:

• Focus on Mitochondrial Dysfunction: Andy Lee, from Vincere Biosciences, discussed mitochondrial dysfunction, a key hallmark of ageing. He emphasized how mitophagy (the recycling of damaged mitochondria) plays a critical role in combating ageing and neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson's and Alzheimer's.
• Mechanism of Mitophagy: The presentation explored how mitochondria become damaged due to reactive oxygen species and genetic factors, leading to diseases. Lee described the process of mitophagy and its regulation through proteins like Parkin and PINK1, highlighting its decline with age.
• Innovative Therapeutic Approaches: Lee introduced cutting-edge developments in mitophagy enhancement. His team has developed potent and selective molecules aimed at clearing damaged mitochondria without harming healthy ones, providing hope for treating conditions like Parkinson's and Alzheimer's.
• Applications Beyond Neurodegeneration: The molecules developed by Lee’s team also show promise in protecting kidney and heart cells, expanding the potential benefits of mitophagy beyond neurodegenerative diseases to broader age-related conditions.
• Exciting Preclinical Results: Animal studies show promising results, including improved lifespan and fertility in models where mitophagy was enhanced. These studies suggest that interventions can potentially slow ageing and improve the quality of life in midlife.
• Future Clinical Trials: The podcast concluded with Lee discussing plans to advance their therapeutic candidates into human clinical trials within the next 12 months, which could mark a breakthrough in longevity science.