Wait another five years
Maxim Skulachev: "The cure for old age" will appear in 5 years
Natalia Kuznetsova
The project "Iona Skulachev" intends to launch the release of a systemic "medicine against old age", or the drug "Plastomitin". Invest-Foresight learned about this at the Vesti Finance forum from the CEO of the project's parent company Mitotech LLC, a leading researcher at the Faculty of Bioengineering and Bioinformatics of Moscow State University Maxim Skulachev.
– Maxim Vladimirovich, what is "Plastomitin"? How does it affect the human body?
– The name of the drug "Plastomitin" is formed from two words: the plant antioxidant plastoquinone and mitochondria. Plastoquinone is part of the antioxidant SkQ1, which the academician has been working on for 15 years Vladimir Skulachev and we are his four sons. Since then, the Ion Skulachev project has attracted substantial support and has received such results that today we can speak of us as the only team capable of solving the problem of aging in the near future. All this time, the participation and support of Lomonosov Moscow State University was especially important for us.
Our idea is based on the fact that aging can be stopped if damage to the mitochondria ("energy stations" of cells) is prevented by reducing the formation of free radicals in the mitochondria. The mitochondria is the part of the cell that we breathe, where oxygen oxidizes nutrients and stores energy for the cell as a result of this reaction. The older a person is, the more mitochondria form venom and free radicals.
Academician Skulachev came up with an antioxidant that can penetrate the mitochondria and catch free radicals right at the place of formation of these toxic substances. The molecule invented by the academician is a lipophilic cation ("Skulachev ion") and contains an antioxidant of plant origin in its composition. The substance was named SkQ (Sk is a Skulachev ion, Q is a quinone). The molecule synthesized by our company "Mitotech" can penetrate through biological membranes. Well–known antioxidants – vitamins C, E, green tea flavonoids, etc. - cannot get into the mitochondria and therefore do not prolong life.
If it is proved that Plastomitin fights aging, it will be Disruptive Technology, "disruptive technology" according to Kleiten Christensen, which will completely turn the existing pharmaceutical market. The existing pharmaceutical market is sure that nothing can be done with aging. But if possible, the classic drugs produced by pharmaceutical companies will turn into niche products for those "who are under 150".
– Have you tested your drug? What are the results?
– The drug was tested on mice, rats, and other laboratory animals. In various experiments, it was possible to slow down more than 30 signs of aging. The mice that were given "Plastomitin" did not have a curved spine, which indicates the absence of osteoporosis, the hairline was preserved, reproductive functions did not fade with age, and internal organs were in working condition, unlike their "sisters" or mice of the same litter that were not given "Plastomitin". This experience was repeated (with some changes) in several laboratories, including by scientists at Stockholm University under the leadership of Barbara Cannon. The "Swedish" mice taking "Plastomitin" also aged more slowly. In this experiment, it was possible to increase not only the average, but also the maximum life expectancy of animals. The results of these experiments were described in a scientific article published in 2017 in the journal Aging.
In animal experiments, scientists have obtained positive results on the action of SkQ against age-dependent diseases such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, multiple sclerosis, diabetes, osteoporosis. Scientists have concluded that SkQ affects the cause of these diseases. Unfortunately, the list does not include cancer – here the substance had no effect. In other studies, very good results were obtained on the vascular endothelium, in which, as it turned out, SkQ suppresses pro-inflammatory processes.
Recently, the first stage of clinical trials on healthy volunteers was completed, 36 people participated in the study group. In this test, the safety of SkQ for the human body was confirmed (with a single intake of large doses).
The plans include trials on patients with certain age–related diseases in the United States and Canada, if the company finds the money for this. In 6-10 years, it will be found out whether SkQ-based drugs slow down the aging of the human body. The launch of Plastomitin will take place no earlier than 3-5 years. The whole business plan takes 30 years, the team has worked out half of the term.
– Mitotech Company, developing an anti-aging medicine, made Visomitin eye drops (against dry eye syndrome). Do you have any plans to make an improved version of Visomitin, which would treat other severe eye diseases?
– Visomitin eye drops are based on SkQ, which is less concentrated than in Plastomitin. This drug has been registered, has passed a series of clinical trials and has been sold in Russia for several years. To date, 2 million vials of "Visomitin" have been sold. My father is now 84 years old, he used "Visomitin" for a whole year and avoided surgery to replace the lens. He still drives us to seminars and writes, as he says, his "best scientific article."
The third stage of testing of our eye drops in the USA has recently been completed. In this test, along with the usual "Visomitin", a variant of drops was studied in which the concentration of SkQ1 was multiplied. I hope this is the drug that will help treat retinal dystrophy, glaucoma, etc. The tests were funded by the Hong Kong company Essex Bio-Technology, which invested $17 million. From a financial point of view, the main market for our drugs is the USA.
As soon as Visomitin eye drops appeared on sale, women began to buy them to fight wrinkles. But the drops designed to restore the cornea were not suitable for the skin, and we developed a small cosmetic line based on the antioxidant SkQ: the anti-aging serum "Mitovitan" and a regenerating gel. Although they were not going to do it on purpose.
– How much money is needed for the further development of the project to create an "anti-aging pill"?
– In just 10 years of the expanded investment project, about 1.6 billion rubles were invested in us. Now we are investing in our project all that the company earns from the sale of drops and cosmetics is several million dollars a year. But tens of millions of dollars more will be needed for broader clinical trials of Plastomitin. We expect to earn them, attract funds for joint development from other pharmaceutical companies or from financial investors.
– Who are your competitors?
– The American company Stealth BioTherapeutics, which also develops mitochondrial drugs against many diseases; however, so far it does not dare to declare the fight against aging. They are currently conducting several second-stage clinical trials. They went to the IPO, raised, according to some estimates, about $ 300 million.
– What do you think about the anti-aging drug metformin?
– Many scientists consider him the number one candidate for a cure for old age. Initially, it is a drug against diabetes, but in many animal experiments it has prolonged the life of healthy people. However, not so long ago there were data from clinical trials in which he practically nullified the positive effect of physical training. In general, I welcome the interest in this substance, but I'm not at all sure that metformin will really be able to solve the problem of aging.
– How does Big pharma relate to your research?
– They are very interested in our developments regarding specific drugs, but they are not ready to talk about anti-aging technologies yet.
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