UK-based biotech company LinkGevity has announced a breakthrough in the field of slowing down the aging process. Its scientists have developed new experimental drugs that can not only fight age-related diseases, but also influence the aging process itself, according to the company's CEO Dr. Karin Kern.
We are talking about miracle pills that, according to preliminary data, are capable of influencing the key mechanism of cell death - necrosis.
What is necrosis and why is it important?
Necrosis is a form of cell death that, unlike apoptosis (programmed cell death), is chaotic, causes inflammation, and is often accompanied by damage to surrounding tissues. In recent years, the scientific community has begun to study its role in the development of age-related diseases in more depth.
The key factor, Dr. Kern explains, is calcium. Normally, its concentration inside the cell is very low, but during stress, calcium levels increase dramatically, disrupting cellular balance and triggering necrosis.
"We have long underestimated the importance of necrosis," Kern notes. "Now it is clear that it is not only a symptom of aging, but also one of its main triggers.".
What exactly does LinkGevity offer?
The drugs developed by the company are aimed at stopping or significantly slowing down the onset of necrosis, protecting cells from the destructive effects of excess calcium. This opens up the possibility of maintaining the health of tissues and organs even in old age.
The research is still in the preclinical stage, but clinical trials are planned to begin this year.
Prospects for medicine
The successful results of the trials could open a new era in gerontology and pharmacology. If the new drugs are proven to effectively reduce cell damage with age, this could lead to a new generation of drugs against diseases such as Alzheimer's disease, heart failure, or age-related muscle atrophy.
Despite the fact that it is too early to talk about the imminent release of these drugs on the market, the very fact of actively researching necrosis as a cause of aging is already an important step towards the future of medicine.
