In 1986, Queen frontman Freddie Mercury posed a simple question: Who wants to live forever? If all goes according to plan, humanity could soon be doing just that. Scientists are, for the first time, testing a drug that could reverse the aging process in humans.
First Patient Dosed in Landmark Trial
Boston-based longevity company Life Biosciences announced Tuesday that it had injected a drug called ER-100 into the eyes of a patient suffering from glaucoma. Glaucoma is a group of eye diseases that damage the optic nerve, leading to vision deterioration. The drug aims to reverse this deterioration by persuading genes to reprogram old cells to behave young.
This technique, known as cellular reprogramming, could one day be applied to aging livers or brains, according to the company. Life Biosciences shared the news on X, stating: "Pleased to announce the first patient has been dosed in our Phase 1 clinical trial, evaluating our lead candidate for optic neuropathies."
How the Drug Works
In 2007, scientist Shinya Yamanaka discovered that four genes, the 'Yamanaka Factors', active in early embryonic development, can tell cells to age. His Nobel Prize-winning experiment introduced these genes to old mouse skin cells, causing them to revert to embryonic-like stem cells over two weeks.
Later studies found that reprogramming all four genes yields stem cells, which are too blank to be useful. However, manipulating only three genes makes cells youthful and resilient while preserving their identity. ER-100 targets these three genes in neurons of the optic nerve, which tire and cannot regenerate. By manipulating the cells' genes, scientists effectively turn back the clock, making neurons more youthful and functional.
The patient's identity remains undisclosed. National Library of Medicine records show the study began in March. Over the next six months, scientists will monitor the technique's efficacy and any health issues. The patient takes an antibiotic pill that acts as an on/off switch—stopping the pill halts reprogramming.
Clinics in Boston, New York City, Los Angeles, and Charleston are recruiting 20 patients for the trial. The Phase 1 clinical trial, approved by the US FDA, is expected to finish by 2033.
Longevity Research and Controversy
Life Biosciences co-founder David Sinclair said in 2020 that his team rewound neurons in elderly mice with damaged optic nerves. Sinclair, who theorized that the first person to live to 150 has already been born, has faced criticism for overhyping findings. On X, he wrote: "30 years of research came down to one moment. Was honored to be there. Congrats to the team!"
Can Humans Live Forever?
Billionaires like Amazon's Jeff Bezos and OpenAI's Sam Altman have invested billions in life extension. All humans have aged backward at conception: egg and sperm cells show age, but when they form a zygote, the cells erase parental DNA wrinkles and become young. Scientists have long tried to replicate this natural rejuvenation.
However, full-body rejuvenation has so far been limited to animals like mice and monkeys. Experts hope cellular rejuvenation could cure diseases, but critics warn it is overhyped and could cause cancer, as two of the genes instruct cells to replicate forever. In 2012, mice developed teratomas—tumors made of hair, teeth, and skin—after such tests.
Despite risks, the trial marks a significant step toward understanding and potentially reversing human aging.
