Drug developed for lung disease may slow biological aging in surprising ‘bonus’

Key Points:

• Rentosertib, an experimental drug developed to treat idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), showed potential age-reversing effects in a small clinical study, with patients appearing biologically three to four years younger based on blood protein changes.
• The study, involving 42 IPF patients over 12 weeks, used six aging tests and found that rentosertib altered blood proteins in ways opposite to typical aging patterns, though researchers caution that these findings are preliminary and do not prove the drug reverses aging or extends lifespan.
• Rentosertib was discovered using artificial intelligence to target biological factors linked to aging and disease, and early results suggest it may influence cellular processes related to aging and damage response.
• Side effects of rentosertib were generally manageable, including mild diarrhea and temporary liver enzyme increases, with ongoing trials aiming to optimize dosing for longer treatment durations.
• The drug is now in a phase 3 trial with over 300 patients in China, and larger, longer studies including healthy older adults are needed to confirm any anti-aging benefits beyond its use for lung disease.