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Retro Biosciences Expands Alzheimer's Drug Trial After Initial Safety Success

Retro Biosciences Expands Alzheimer's Drug Trial After Initial Safety Success

Retro Biosciences, a longevity startup funded by Sam Altman, is expanding its Phase 1 safety trial for RTR-242, a pill designed to combat Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases. The company is adding two new cohorts, increasing total enrollment by over 42% from 76 to 108 participants. This expansion follows early safety data that showed no major side effects or safety signals, which CEO Joe Betts-LaCroix described as a 'mixed blessing.' The drug targets lysosomes, cellular recycling centers that break down old proteins, aiming to restore their acidity which tends to decrease with age. This process, known as autophagy, is believed to slow down with aging and contribute to neurodegenerative diseases. The current trial is testing RTR-242 in healthy volunteers aged 18 to 65, with the hope of finding a dose potent enough to show a physiological effect without becoming unsafe.

New Single-Molecule Technique Advances Tau Protein Mapping for Alzheimer's Research

New Single-Molecule Technique Advances Tau Protein Mapping for Alzheimer's Research

Scientists have developed a new method called Iterative Mapping of proteoforms, which allows for the measurement of intact protein forms, or proteoforms, at a single-molecule level and on an unprecedented scale. This technique was specifically demonstrated on tau proteins, which are implicated in Alzheimer's disease and other neurodegenerative conditions known as tauopathies. Unlike traditional proteomics methods that break proteins into peptides, Iterative Mapping preserves the integrity of each proteoform, enabling researchers to observe individual protein molecules directly. This approach provides a detailed understanding of the chemical modifications and sequence variants that define each proteoform, which can significantly influence a protein's behavior within a cell. The method has been validated using control samples and applied to model systems in tauopathy research, as well as human-derived brain tissue samples, offering a crucial link between experimental validation and real-world translational r...

Scientists Identify Protein Allowing Aging Cells to Evade Immune System, Opening Avenues for Healthspan Treatments

Scientists Identify Protein Allowing Aging Cells to Evade Immune System, Opening Avenues for Healthspan Treatments

Researchers have identified a protein, PD-L2, that allows senescent cells—worn-out cells that accumulate with age and release inflammatory signals—to evade the body's immune system. This discovery, reported in a new peer-reviewed study by Cedars-Sinai, indicates that senescent human cells produce more PD-L2 than younger cells, with levels increasing in some human tissues with age. In mouse studies, genetically removing or experimentally blocking PD-L2 led to a reduction in senescent-cell accumulation and lowered inflammatory signals. These mice also showed improved health measures, including glucose processing and grip strength. This suggests that PD-L2 acts as a 'disguise,' making it harder for the immune system to eliminate these persistent, potentially harmful cells. The research is significant not as a direct anti-aging treatment for humans, but as an identification of a mechanism contributing to the persistence of unwanted senescent cells.

Bank of America Increases Stake in Immunic, Inc. by Over 80,000%

Bank of America Increases Stake in Immunic, Inc. by Over 80,000%

Bank of America Increases Stake in Immunic, Inc. by Over 80,000%

Global shares mostly decline and AI stocks plunge after calls to slow AI industry

Global shares mostly decline and AI stocks plunge after calls to slow AI industry

World shares have mostly declined, led by AI-related stocks, and U.S. futures have edged lower

AI-linked Asian stocks slump after top lab CEOs call for slowing down technology's development

AI-linked Asian stocks slump after top lab CEOs call for slowing down technology's development

By Gregor Stuart Hunter SINGAPORE, Sept 14 (Reuters) - AI-connected stocks fell sharply in early Asian trading on Monday after the CEOs of the companies developing the most advanced AI models warned the pace of development must slow to prevent threats to humanity.

AI warnings knock Nasdaq futures, pressure tech stocks

AI warnings knock Nasdaq futures, pressure tech stocks

Sept 14 (Reuters) - Futures tracking the Nasdaq 100 index led losses early on Monday, dragged by a selloff in AI heavyweights after top U.S. executives said development of the technology should be slowed due to safety concerns.

Good Medicine Podcast Highlights Challenges of Mouse Models in Drug Development

Good Medicine Podcast Highlights Challenges of Mouse Models in Drug Development

The Good Medicine Podcast, featuring Dr. David Bearss and Dr. Jeremiah Bearss, recently discussed a significant challenge in modern drug development: the limitations of mouse models. The podcast highlighted that despite drug development taking an average of 15 years and costing billions of dollars, most therapies that show promise in mouse models ultimately fail in human trials. Only a small percentage of therapies effective in mice succeed in people, leading to substantial impacts on timelines and costs within the pharmaceutical industry. The discussion emphasized the need for more predictive testing systems to improve pharmaceutical innovation and reduce the financial burden associated with failed drug candidates. The core issue is that animal models, particularly mice, often do not accurately predict human responses to drugs, leading to a high attrition rate in clinical development.

Intellia Therapeutics Seeks Regional Scientific Director for CRISPR Gene-Editing Programs in Mid-Atlantic

Intellia Therapeutics Seeks Regional Scientific Director for CRISPR Gene-Editing Programs in Mid-Atlantic

Intellia Therapeutics is actively recruiting a Regional Scientific Director (Associate Director level) for its Mid-Atlantic region, encompassing Maryland, Washington D.C., Delaware, Virginia, West Virginia, North Carolina, and South Carolina. This customer-facing medical role is crucial for establishing partnerships within the healthcare community to support Intellia’s CRISPR-based gene-editing programs, specifically nex-z and lonvo-z. The director will engage with Principal Investigators (PIs), Key Opinion Leaders (KOLs), multidisciplinary healthcare teams, and referring healthcare professionals to facilitate scientific exchange, medical education, and insight identification. Key responsibilities include educating KOLs on Intellia's CRISPR gene-editing platform, understanding patient journeys at key centers, and developing individualized scientific engagement plans. The role also involves providing scientific support for Phase 3 clinical trials, assisting with site activation and recruitment, and identify...

Wellness Clinics Address Growing Interest in Longevity Compounds MOTS-c and NMN Amidst Limited Human Evidence

Wellness Clinics Address Growing Interest in Longevity Compounds MOTS-c and NMN Amidst Limited Human Evidence

Wellness Clinics Address Growing Interest in Longevity Compounds MOTS-c and NMN Amidst Limited Human Evidence

Encoded Therapeutics Secures $275 Million for Dravet Syndrome Gene Therapy Advancement

Encoded Therapeutics Secures $275 Million for Dravet Syndrome Gene Therapy Advancement

Encoded Therapeutics Secures $275 Million for Dravet Syndrome Gene Therapy Advancement

USC Researchers Develop Blood-Based Algorithm to Enhance Alzheimer's Trial Screening

USC Researchers Develop Blood-Based Algorithm to Enhance Alzheimer's Trial Screening

Researchers at the Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California (USC) have developed a blood-plasma screening algorithm designed to improve the efficiency of recruiting participants for Alzheimer's prevention trials. This new tool aims to identify individuals more likely to meet the amyloid thresholds required for trial enrollment, thereby reducing the need for costly and time-consuming positron emission tomography (PET) scans. The algorithm integrates two plasma biomarkers: the amyloid-beta ratio, which indicates early brain amyloid, and phosphorylated tau 217 (p-tau217), a direct marker of amyloid burden. Additionally, age and apolipoprotein E4 (APOE4) carrier status are factored in to refine individual risk estimates. The development of this algorithm utilized data from 1,080 participants in the AHEAD 3-45 phase 3 trial and was validated using an independent cohort from the Wisconsin Registry for Alzheimer’s Prevention. The algorithm was iteratively refined during the AHEAD trial's r...