Scientists Develop Drug to Halt Cell Death and Combat Ageing

Researchers have announced a potential breakthrough in the fight against human ageing, with the development of a drug aimed at halting cell death. Trials for this innovative treatment are slated to begin later this year, promising a new approach to address the cellular processes linked to ageing and various diseases.

Cell death is an essential biological process that occurs in different forms, one of which is necrosis. This uncontrolled form of cell death can lead to significant damage, as cells swell and eventually burst, releasing harmful substances into surrounding tissues. The consequences of necrosis can include chronic inflammation, genetic instability, and even the formation of tumours. It has been associated with several serious health conditions, including Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, various cancers, and kidney disease.

In May 2023, the prominent cancer journal Oncogene published a study emphasizing the role of necrosis in kidney disease. This research aims to enhance understanding of necrosis and explore strategies to combat its effects. The study is led by Dr. Carina Kern, a former geneticist at University College London and now CEO of the biotech firm LinkGevity.

Dr. Kern has posited that a new class of medications, termed “anti-nectrotics,” could be the first to reverse the effects of ageing. Reflecting on her experiences, Dr. Kern recounted: “At the time, I could not comprehend how I was so easily cured of nearly any injury, and I would be back to normal. But with her, the doctors just said ‘you can’t intervene, it’s just ageing.'”

Years later, witnessing the deterioration associated with ageing, Dr. Kern developed the “Blueprint Theory” of ageing. This theory aims to identify the underlying mechanisms of ageing and pinpoint areas for intervention to prevent related illnesses. Central to this research is the role of necrosis, which Dr. Kern identifies as primarily involving a “loss of calcium-ion gradients.”

She explained: “Levels of calcium inside the cell are typically 10,000 to 100,000 times lower than outside. Calcium is a key signalling molecule, meaning it controls lots of different processes within your cell. And so upon stress, you lose this regulation, initiating multiple pathways in a heightened and really destructive manner within the cell.”

Despite having studied necrosis for over a century, progress in preventing its involvement in debilitating diseases has been limited. Nevertheless, Dr. Kern and her team of kidney specialists may be on the verge of a significant breakthrough. “It was thought it was just too complex a process to intervene in. What we’ve managed to identify for the first time is that you can block necrosis, but you have to block more than one molecular target,” Dr. Kern stated. “When we did that, we saw up to 90 percent suppression of necrosis.”

The co-author of the study, Dr. Keith Siew, highlighted the urgent need for solutions in kidney health. “The kidney is by far the most in-demand organ, and the one you’re most likely to die on a waiting list for. Some people think dialysis just fixes the problem, but the mortality rate of dialysis is that every year you’re on dialysis, you lose 10 percent of survival.”

As the research progresses towards clinical trials, the implications of these findings could reshape our understanding of ageing and disease, offering hope for new treatments that target the fundamental processes of cellular death. The groundbreaking work of Dr. Kern and her colleagues could lead to advancements not only in kidney health but also in addressing the broader challenges associated with ageing.