Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide, a coenzyme critical for cellular energy metabolism that declines with age. NAD+ precursors like NMN and NR are studied as longevity interventions.

Mechanistic target of rapamycin, a key nutrient-sensing pathway that regulates cell growth and aging. Inhibiting mTOR (e.g., with rapamycin) has shown lifespan extension in multiple organisms.

A class of drugs that selectively eliminate senescent (aged, dysfunctional) cells to reduce inflammation and improve tissue function.

What is Epigenetic clock?

A biomarker based on DNA methylation patterns that estimates biological age, often more predictive of health outcomes than chronological age.

The period of life spent in good health, free from chronic diseases and disability associated with aging.

An immunosuppressant drug that inhibits the mTOR pathway. Research shows rapamycin may extend lifespan and improve age-related health outcomes in multiple species.

What is Biological age?

A measure of how well or poorly your body is functioning relative to your chronological age, assessed through biomarkers such as DNA methylation, telomere length, and blood panels.

What is Caloric restriction?

A dietary regimen that reduces calorie intake without malnutrition. Caloric restriction is one of the most studied interventions shown to extend lifespan across species.

Protective caps at the ends of chromosomes that shorten with each cell division. Telomere length is associated with aging and age-related diseases.

A state in which cells permanently stop dividing but resist death, accumulating with age and secreting inflammatory factors that damage surrounding tissue.

A second-generation epigenetic clock that predicts time to death and is considered one of the most accurate measures of biological aging.

What is Inflammaging?

Chronic, low-grade inflammation that increases with age and contributes to the development of age-related diseases including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and neurodegeneration.

The large-scale study of proteins in biological systems. In longevity research, proteomics identifies blood protein signatures that predict biological age and disease risk.

What is Yamanaka factors?

A set of four transcription factors (Oct4, Sox2, Klf4, c-Myc) that can reprogram adult cells to a pluripotent state. Partial reprogramming with Yamanaka factors is being explored to reverse cellular aging.

Nicotinamide mononucleotide, a precursor to NAD+ that is widely studied as a supplement to boost cellular energy and combat age-related decline.

A gene-editing technology that allows precise modifications to DNA. In longevity research, CRISPR is used to study and potentially modify genes associated with aging.

Life Bio’s Trial: Is the FDA Warming to Rejuvenation?

Life Biosciences is poised to revolutionize the field of longevity with its upcoming human trials for ER-100, an epigenetic therapy aimed at cellular reprogramming in the human eye. This Investigational New Drug (IND) filing, cleared by the FDA in January 2026, targets optic nerve disorders such as glaucoma and non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy. The trial will initially assess safety and tolerability, marking a significant step in addressing age-related diseases through active cellular rejuvenation rather than merely slowing decline.

The significance of this trial extends beyond its immediate clinical applications. If successful, ER-100 could catalyze a paradigm shift in how the FDA and the broader medical community perceive aging and rejuvenation therapies. Currently, the FDA does not recognize aging as a disease, which has limited the development of rejuvenation-focused interventions. However, the FDA’s establishment of the Plausible Mechanism Pathway (PMP) indicates a willingness to consider innovative therapies based on mechanistic evidence, particularly for conditions with limited patient populations. This regulatory flexibility could pave the way for broader acceptance of rejuvenation technologies, contingent upon demonstrating clinical benefits in recognized diseases.

The implications of a successful ER-100 trial are profound. It could validate the concept of cellular rejuvenation in humans, potentially leading to expanded research funding and a shift in focus toward the root causes of aging rather than just symptomatic treatments. Positive results may encourage the FDA to accept epigenetic reversal as a legitimate clinical endpoint, thus fostering a new era of research that prioritizes aging interventions. Additionally, a successful trial could attract institutional investment into the longevity sector, prompting major pharmaceutical companies to pivot towards cellular rejuvenation therapies. As Life Biosciences lays the groundwork, the landscape for rejuvenation technology is set to evolve dramatically, with the potential for systemic applications across multiple organ systems.

Source: lifespan.io