And the previous monthy’s Translating aging podcast:
Podcast - play here:
Company website:
New on VitaDAO:
One-liner : Cyclarity Therapeutics is an early stage biotechnology company developing computationally designed novel cyclodextrin drug molecules for the extraction of toxic biomolecules that accumulate with age and are implicated in a variety of age-related conditions including cardiovascular disease, macular degeneration, stroke, and liver failure.
https://snapshot.org/#/vote.vitadao.eth/proposal/0xeafce7c4610f9398048d7ed93d0bc5a083956224eec5f4e8f7ed5152f9f631d1
Bicep
#6
They are still at it and this is interesting. I may have to wait for 2028?
2 Likes
Cyclodextrins are interesting! Im glad to see progress is being made with research here.
Bicep
#9
Is it easier to get through the red tape in Australia? Or are they trying to compete with RemChol? Interesting. Isn’t Cyclarity a US company?
Probably a combination of factors… cheaper (high value of the US dollar right now compared to most currencies), timing / convenience (companies there may be able to move faster and get the study going more quickly and completed more quickly, etc.
Location of the clinical trial has nothing to do with possible competitors.
A new Cyclarity podcast:
The Pauling Principle Episode14 - Curing cardiovascular disease to radically extend healthy lifespan
A DIA summary (below):
From: https://www.diabrowser.com
This video explores new approaches to curing cardiovascular disease and extending healthy lifespan.
Key Points from the Interview
1. Shift from Sick Care to Preventive Medicine
- The conversation opens with a critique of the current “sick care” mentality in medicine, emphasizing the need for proactive maintenance—similar to regular car or house upkeep—to prevent breakdowns before they occur.
2. Matthew “Oki” O’Connor’s Path to Longevity Research
- O’Connor shares his lifelong passion for aging and longevity, starting at age 16, leading to a PhD and a career focused on the biology of aging. He worked at Baylor College of Medicine, UC Berkeley, and the SENS Research Foundation, eventually co-founding Cyclarity Therapeutics.
3. The Technology Behind Cyclarity Therapeutics
- Cyclarity’s core innovation is a drug based on cyclodextrins—cyclic carbohydrates used in medicine for drug delivery. Their new approach involves engineering cyclodextrins to specifically bind and remove oxidized cholesterol, a toxic form linked to cardiovascular disease and aging.
4. Why Cyclodextrins Are Safe
- Cyclodextrins are non-reactive, not metabolized for energy, and are quickly excreted from the body. This makes them safer than many drugs, with minimal risk of immune reactions or toxicity.
5. Cyclodextrins vs. Antibodies and Small Molecule Drugs
- Cyclodextrin-based drugs are described as “halfway” between antibodies and small molecules. Unlike antibodies, they don’t trigger immune responses, and their specificity is engineered rather than evolved. This reduces risks like autoimmunity and off-target effects.
6. Targeting Oxidized Cholesterol for Aging and Disease
- The initial drug targets oxidized cholesterol, which accumulates with age and is directly linked to cardiovascular disease. O’Connor explains that the drug was designed as an “aging drug” but is being applied to heart disease due to the strong connection.
7. Theories of Aging: Damage Accumulation vs. Programming
- O’Connor favors the damage accumulation model, focusing on removing harmful molecules and cellular damage as a practical therapeutic strategy, regardless of academic debates about aging’s root causes.
8. Drug Design and Safety
- The drug is designed to act quickly (within minutes), bind its target, and be excreted, minimizing side effects and overdose risk. Its therapeutic index is very wide, making accidental overdose nearly impossible.
9. Chronic Infections and Aging
- The discussion highlights the underappreciated role of chronic infections (e.g., herpes, CMV, toxoplasma) in aging and age-related diseases like Alzheimer’s. O’Connor advocates for more research and resources to address these persistent infections.
10. Practical Longevity Advice
- O’Connor recommends focusing on diet, exercise, sleep, avoiding tobacco and excessive alcohol, and targeted supplementation based on biomarkers. He also discusses self-experimentation with aging clocks and wearable devices to track health metrics like heart rate variability.
11. Longevity Paradoxes
- The conversation touches on paradoxes in longevity, such as supercentenarians not necessarily having optimal lifestyles, and the lack of correlation between extreme fitness and maximum lifespan.
12. Closing Thoughts
- The interview ends with optimism about future therapies and the importance of shifting societal attitudes and resources toward preventive and longevity-focused medicine.
