BioViva Funds Research for Aging Vaccines

BioViva USA is funding researchers at Rutgers University to develop anti-aging and regenerative therapies. Short term, the aim is to extend the lifespan of primary human cells and organoids, as well as of aged mice. The long-term goal is to establish a platform for clinical trial studies using a novel human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) as a vector and to develop a multi-gene therapeutic aging vaccine.

“This research is poised to develop a new class of vaccines and redesign how we treat aging, making it easier for people to stay healthy longer,” says Elizabeth Parrish, CEO of BioViva. "Over 100,000 people die of aging every day, and hundreds of millions suffer from chronic disease. This vaccine has the potential to forge a better way forward, with less suffering."

“The proposed research has great implication for people and governments all over the world seeking a cost-effective preventive solution for all the major diseases of aging,” adds Rutgers professor Hua Zhu. “If our project succeeds, it could lead to clinical trials to test the therapeutic potential of recombinant virus expressing multiple anti-aging factors."

While this shouldn’t lead to unrealistic expectations, the very fact that scientists are speculating on anti-aging vaccines is encouraging.

CRISPR can fight obesity without editing the genome. Researchers at UC San Francisco have found that CRISPR therapies can cut fat without cutting DNA. A study published in Science describes how a modified version of CRISPR was used to ramp up the activity of certain genes and prevent severe obesity in mice with genetic mutations that predispose them to extreme weight gain. Importantly, the researchers achieved long-lasting weight control without making a single edit to the genome.

Electronic pill can relay diagnostic information or release drugs in response to smartphone commands. Scientists at MIT, Draper, and Brigham and Women's Hospital have designed an ingestible capsule that can be controlled using Bluetooth wireless technology. The capsule, described in a paper published in Advanced Materials Technologies, can be customized to deliver drugs, sense environmental conditions, or both. The device can reside in the stomach for at least a month, transmitting information and responding to instructions from a user's smartphone.

Natural clay materials could be used in anti-obesity treatments. Researchers at University of South Australia have discovered that montmorillonite, a natural clay material, purified from dirt and synthetic clay laponite, has a unique ability to "soak up" fat droplets in the gut. A research paper published in Pharmaceutical Research suggests that these clay materials trap the fats within their particle structure, and prevent the fats from being absorbed by the body, ensuring that fat is simply passed through the digestive system. The scientists are persuaded that this research could lead to new anti-obesity treatments with fewer adverse effects than currently marketed treatment options.

Drug cocktail induces cancer cell death. Researchers at University of Basel Basilea Pharmaceutica International have found that a widely used diabetes medication, combined with an antihypertensive drug, induces cancer cell death by switching off its energy supply. A study published in Cell Reports indicates that the combination of the two drugs blocks a critical step in energy production thus leading to an energy shortage, which finally drives cancer cells to "suicide." Previously, University of Basel researchers had discovered that the combination of the two drugs - anti-diabetes drug metformin and antihypertensive drug syrosingopine - inhibits tumor growth.

Two compounds in coffee could slow brain degeneration. Scientists at Rutgers University have found a compound in coffee that may team up with caffeine to fight Parkinson's disease and Lewy body dementia -- two progressive and currently incurable diseases associated with brain degeneration. A research paper published in PNAS suggests that combining EHT (Eicosanoyl-5-hydroxytryptamide) and caffeine may become a therapeutic option to slow brain degeneration.

High-intensity interval exercise halts cognitive decline in obese people. Researchers at Florida Atlantic University have discovered another important health benefit of high-intensity interval exercise - short bursts of intense exercise with rest intervals. A study published in Experimental Biology and Medicine shows that acute high-intensity interval exercise may be an effective protocol to up-regulate the expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), a protein in the brain that promotes the survival of nerve cells or neurons, in an obese population. It could also be an effective strategy to prevent and combat cognitive dysfunction in obese individuals.