It is illuminating to think back to the 1920’s when very many were still dying from the effects of bacterial infections – tuberculosis, syphilis, gonorrhoea, blood poisoning.

If you had told people back then that these diseases would be virtually wiped out within a decade, you would have been greeted with ridicule. But, penicillin was discovered – and they were wiped out.

James Watson is one of the giants of 20th century biology. Along with Francis Crick, he predicted accurately the structure of DNA to be a double helix.

Well, Watson is still active in research at the age of 83. His interesting prediction is that the back of most cancers will be broken within 5 to 10 years.

There is still a lot of fear around cancer. But just think that most cancers could, according to Watson, be curable by 2022.

The thing is, there are pathways through which cancer is able to multiply itself indefinitely – at least, it can now. But once these are found, then blocking these pathways will clobber any cancer easily.

Today, it’s hard to accept that. But it was equally hard for people in the 1920’s to imagine the effects of penicillin on bugs which had been killing a large proportion of the population for generations.

Hard as it is to accept, cancer is now on the run.

Related articles

• The high school student who devised a cure for cancer | Mail Online (madworldz.wordpress.com)

Cancer Cure in Sight in 5-10 Years is a post from: Living To 150

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The Black Death, which swept through London in the 14^th century, killed around 40% of the population. That was some epidemic.

In an effort to understand microbial development and behaviour, with a view to helping us to deal with future infections, the science of paleomicrobiology has developed: the piecing together of genetic evidence from centuries ago.

It is interesting to paleomicrobiologists just why the Black Death was so very virulent. The ability to sequence of the genome – to know the precise composition of a human individual’s DNA from end to end – has made the task of finding out this information much more possible. The ability for paleomicrobiologists and historians to work together will deepen our understanding of the migrating activity of microbes and the progress of pandemics. This can only help us to spot them early and to be able to deal with them.

Related articles

• Bubonic plague genome: The Black Death decoded (nature.com)
• ‘Black Death’ bacteria likely extinct, study finds – msnbc.com (news.google.com)

Identifying the Precise Genome of the Black Death is a post from: Living To 150

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1. Genome Sequencing Used For First UK Medical Diagnosis
2. What Use Is Genetic Testing?
3. Is The NHS Ready For Genetic Medicine?

Trial Of Heart Attack Stem Cell Treatment (Wikipedia)

Stem cells are being tested to improve the success rate of certain heart attack treatments.

If a blocked artery causes a heart attack, a common treatment is to insert a stent – a hollow tube – into the artery to re-enable the blood flow. The problem is that the insertion of the stent can cause tissue damage. By introducing large numbers of stem cells to the area at the same time it is expected that the healing process will be faster and better.

The difference with this trial is that when the stem cells are needed there is no time to grow the patient’s own stem cells – to avoid rejection by the immune system. Australian company Mesoblast has overcome that problem by growing a specific kind of stem cell found in bone marrow which does not trigger an immune response. In other words, they can be introduced into anyone’s body without fear of rejection.

These stem cells are also not embryonic stem cells which have caused controversy in the past. They are capable of being grown en masse and kept in storage for when they are needed.

The study will involve 225 patients who have suffered severe heart attacks in the UK, Netherlands and Belgium. Initial results are expected after 12 months. There appears to be a very good chance that this use of the specialised stem cells will significantly improve the recovery from the operation as well as the survival rate.

Related articles

• Europe Gives Mesoblast Approval for Clinical Trials of “Off the Shelf” Stem Cell Treatments for Major Heart Attack Victims (ducknetweb.blogspot.com)
• Stem cell trial for heart failure approved (telegraph.co.uk)
• Mesoblast Receives Clearance To Begin First European Trial Of Allogeneic Or ‘Off-The-Shelf’ Stem Cell Treatment For Heart Attacks (medicalnewstoday.com)

Trial Of Heart Attack Stem Cell Treatment is a post from: Living To 150

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1. Stem Cells For Heart Attack
2. Stem Cell Treatment For Stroke
3. More “Stem Cell Madness”

DARPA Grand Challenge 2005 (Wikipedia)

Significant artificial intelligence – “AI” – is just around the corner. 2011 has been a particularly good year for it: IBM computer Watson beat the two top Jeopardy! quiz show contestants in February. But some of the other milestones of AI have been particularly memorable.

The first major AI event many remember was when IBM’s Deep Blue computer beat chess master Gary Kasparov in a series of games. This was only in 1997. It was preceded by a number of attempts to beat a chess master – which failed.

Then in 2005, Stanford University produced a robot which drove alone along a desert trail for 131 miles. This was the DARPA challenge. Similarly, the previous couple of years saw attempts which failed.

Human ingenuity is such that we keep trying until we get there. And so with AI.

It’s been said that it’s about time that we started to focus the debate on how to deal with the emerging technology before it’s too late to influence it.

The Singularity Institute Is A Leader In Approaching AI

The Singularity Institute – whose leading light is brilliant inventor and thinker Ray Kurzweil – is pushing forward a programme of “Friendly AI”. They quote PayPal co-founder Peter Thiel who says:

“I’m interested in facilitating a forum in which there can be… substantive research on how to bring about a world in which AI will be friendly to humans rather than hostile… [The Singularity Institute represents] a combination of very talented people with the right problem space [they're] going after… [They've] done a phenomenal job… on a shoestring budget. From my perspective, the key question is always: What’s the amount of leverage you get as an investor? Where can a small amount make a big difference? This is a very leveraged kind of philanthropy.”

Donate To “Friendly AI” – And Double Your Effect

Thanks to benefactors, every pound you donate to the Singularity Institute for AI will be used to study and think through the important matters of how to keep AI safe and friendly.

They say: “…the Singularity Institute has been thinking about how to create safe and ethical artificial intelligence since long before the Singularity landed on the front cover of TIME magazine.”

We need to be thinking about this important matter now – and I have donated. I hope you will too – you can do so here:

http://singinst.org/2011summerchallenge

Related articles on Artificial Intelligence

• SIAI $125,000 Summer Singularity Challenge Launched (acceleratingfuture.com)
• Artificial Intelligence 7/29/2011 (empressoftheglobaluniverse.wordpress.com)
• 2001: A.I. Artificial Intelligence (moviehart.wordpress.com)

We Need To Think Through Artificial Intelligence Now is a post from: Living To 150

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Methuselah (TheoJunior via Flickr)

What is the maximum human lifespan is a fascinating question. And, more to the point, why is it so short?

There is no moral reason why we should deteriorate as we age and then die by the time we are 90, 100, 110 or – the maximum currently possible for humans – 120 years old. If we try to interfere with this factor – if we try to extend healthy human life – we are doing no more than Fleming did when he discovered penicillin; we just have different tools now. No doubt Fleming was considered a heretic in his day by some sections of the public.

The problem with extending the maximum human lifespan is that mammals are fairly complex beings, and evolution has resulted in our developing some fairly inefficient body processes.

For example, getting oxygen to our cells – via breathing and the red blood cells – is highly inefficient; it takes a lot of energy to get a single molecule of oxygen to a cell.

Science will improve this process massively, with huge benefits for oxygen capacity, physical endurance and general health. It is easy to see the life-saving benefits of this for, for example, premature babies and also those with lung disease such as emphysema.

Whales Live Longer

Some mammals do live a long time already. Some whales live up to 200 years, for example. Why shouldn’t humans? This isn’t a moral issue: it’s purely a physical one.

Some other beings – for example lobsters – live so long: that we have no idea of their life span. It seems to be indefinite. These are simpler beings, however, which reduces the accumulated damage of the type from which humans suffer. But the principle remains: lobsters show no signs of aging. In fact, in terms of fertility, the older they get, the more fertile they are.

Reducing Damage Is The Key

The key to healthy aging is reducing damage ion the body. This ranges from glycation (wrinkling, inside and out, promoted by high sugar levels in the blood), to oxidation – (free radical damage) (which anti-oxidants oppose), to reducing fat and building lean muscle (a high protein diet and interval training are both great for this; preferably both).

Check out this article from http://fightaging.com on a “20 minute argument in favour of Radical Life Extension”.

The maximum human lifespan is entirely brought about by physical restrictions. There is no morality to it: it is just a figure waiting to be extended by human science. Of course, lengthened lifespan will bring questions and issues, such as overcrowding.

But humans have shown they are resourceful and adaptable and they will, of course, use those skills as our lifespan increases, which it inevitably will. And – sooner than you probably think.

What Is The Maximum Human Lifespan? is a post from: Living To 150

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Image via Wikipedia

As you may know, Aubrey de Grey is one of the leading lights in anti-aging research in the UK: and perhaps worldwide. He is a fascinating speaker and highly knowledgeable.

The video below will really get you thinking about the aging process, and whether it is inevitable….. Aubrey de Grey is very convincing and clearly well informed. He is a joy to listen to.  Check it out!

Related articles on Aubrey de Grey

• Aubrey de Grey on Singularity 1 on 1: Better Funding and Advocacy Can Defeat Aging (singularityblog.singularitysymposium.com)
• Aubrey de Grey on the Harvard Mouse News (acceleratingfuture.com)
• James Ellobogen clarifies nanoprocessor speed potential and projects shrinking it by 1000 times and Aubrey de Grey on the telomere research (nextbigfuture.com)

Anti-Aging Cure Found?

Aubrey de Grey – a fascinating man to listen to.

Video By Aubrey de Grey – Fascinating is a post from: Living To 150

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The American Association for the Advancement of Science has said that a kind of “skin printing” technology is quite close which will  revolutionise treatment of burned skin.

The technology will measure the size of the damaged area of burned skin, and then create a replacement skin patch of the right size using printing techniques.

3D printing has come on tremendously in the last few years, enabling complete structures to be created  using printing processes – with a print head moving rapidly to produce the 3D structure..

The technology is a fairly early stage right now, but cell biologist Vladimir Warren of from the Medical University of South Carolina, said that he expected this printing technology to be used for burns within a few years, and to become “standard practice” within 20 years.

The advantages are a rapid repair for burn victims, and the quick way to stop fluid loss – which is one of the worst side-effects of serious burns.

As well as in hospital burns units, this technology would have a valuable application on the battlefield.

Full Story.

Related coverage of Print Technology and Skin Growth

• Ink-jet printers inspire scientists to make skin (lookatvietnam.com)
• Printers to churn out skin grafts for burns victims (dailymail.co.uk)

Print Technology Will Provide Perfect Burn Repairs is a post from: Living To 150

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Image by Jun Seita via Flickr

Skin cancer can be a very unpleasant and rapidly growing type of cancer.

Researchers believe they have found one pathway via which some skin cells can become cancerous.

They have found that a powerful “oncogene” called Ras in combination with excessive activity from specific a protein stimulates skin cells to produce a substance called “keratin 15″. This substance tends to encourage cancer.

Understanding the process by which cancer can be triggered is very important because it means that firstly treatments can be applied to stop it happening, and secondly if it has already happened, treatments can be found to stop it.

The full details are reported in the journal Cell Stem Cell.

Related articles on Skin Cancer and also Stem Cells

• CSHL study unmasks a stem cell origin of skin cancer and the genetic roots of malignancy (eurekalert.org)
• MicroRNA cocktail helps turn skin cells into stem cells (physorg.com)
• The skin gun (boingboing.net)

Skin Cancer Process Identified is a post from: Living To 150

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1. Stem Cell Treatment For Stroke

Image via Wikipedia

There is no doubt that anti-aging research is slowed down hugely by unnecessary bureaucracy.

Researchers in the field spend far too much of their time dealing with regulatory matters and too little of their time actually doing the anti-aging research they love. Much more of their time is spent in raising money to fund an area of research in which government has little interest.

In future years, the current regulatory environment will be seen as sheer madness. This research will, in 20-40 years, produce massive relief from suffering and avoidance of many of the diseases of old age. The burden on society that such ailments cause will also be massively reduced.

As usual, government is being short-sighted. No surprise there. What would we give for an enlightened leader?

Of course some regulation is necessary: but not the amount which so massively reduces the rate at which problems are solved such as recovery from stroke, the conquering of cancer, and of Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.

Here is a post by someone who deals with this type of excessive regulation every day.

Regulation Slows Down Anti-Aging Research is a post from: Living To 150

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Image via Wikipedia

The use of stem cells for stroke and other serious diseases has massive potential. In the UK, the company ReNeuron has proceeded to human clinical trials for treating ischaemic stroke – the most common type – with stem cells.

In this treatment, a stroke patient receives local anaesthetic and stem cells are injected through a tiny tube into the area of the brain affected by the stroke. In other words, the area with dead and damaged cells.

In the trial a total of twelve patients will be treated. In December 2010 the first patient to receive treatment passed 28 days without a problem, and ReNeuron were given the go-ahead to treat the other 2 patients in the first cohort. In due course the remaining 9 will receive treatment in the same way – assuming results on the other 3 continuing to be problem-free.

A successful result to this trial for stroke patients will give a huge boost to the company and to UK stem cell research in general.

Use of stem cells has massive potential. The public are wary about the implications for this type of research right now. But this concern is misplaced. In 10-20 years we will all be wondering why is took so long to get this type of therapy in mainstream use, when we see the huge amount of pain and suffering it can avoid.

ReNeuron are based in Guildford, Surrey.

Related articles

• ReNeuron launches first stem cell trial for stroke (fiercebiotech.com)
• ReNeuron stem cell trial clears first hurdle (fiercebiotech.com)
• Human placenta stem cells show therapeutic potential in stroke models (news.bioscholar.com)
• Stem-Cell Use a First for Stroke Victims (abcnews.go.com)

Stem Cell Treatment For Stroke is a post from: Living To 150

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Gosh – I’d like to go to this – the Manhattan Beach Project, Los Angeles. It’s the conference I wanted to go to when I went to Convergence08 last November: because this on is focused specifically on longevity.

The field of longevity research is getting very exciting now. Aubrey de Grey is quoted as thinking there is a 50/50 chance of his living forever.  Now, if a conservative scientist says that, you have to take note.

Unfortunately, I cannot go – I have things booked for November and can’t get away. But it’s in the diary for next year.

Apparently there will be recordings of the speakers which can be watched for free.

“You’ll get to see all of the twenty minute presentations by world-leading researchers. Each one of the fifteen presenters will also answer up to ten minutes of questions.”

Sorry to miss it. The usual suspects – Aubrey de Grey and Ray Kurzweil – will be there (albeit Kurweil will be beamed in). The whole thing is hosted by David A Kekich and Greta Blackburn of Maximum Life Foundation, and sponsored by Life Extension Foundation. Should be very good.

Follow Maximum Life Foundation on Twitter @maxlifeorg .

Longevity Conference, November 2009 is a post from: Living To 150

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The concerns with stem cell research came about mainly for ethical and religious reasons. These have dampened down lately. President Obama’s policy change towards federal funding of stem cell research – effectively banned by his predecessor – has certainly stimulated interest in the field.

But one bright light on the horizon is the development of new methods of generating stem cells. These will not be taken from embryos.

The prime method is the use of so called ‘IPS’ cells – or induced pluripotent stem cells.

These were first produced in Japan in 2007. The ‘magical’ thing about them is that they are made by taking cells which are already specialized and turning back the clock – turning them into an embyonic state. This is done by adding some chemicals – such as genes – to them.

For many of the religious this is completely acceptable to their faith; and scientists are happy too – because they can always use a person’s own cells to make their new organ or whatever – and there will therefore be no immune system rejection of the new tissues.

Research into IPS cells is still at an early stage, compared to embryonic stem cells; so embryonic stem cell work will continue for now. But once IPS cells are better understood, their use will surely predominate if not take over.

New Stem Cell Methods is a post from: Living To 150

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We all know that aerobic exercise help us to keep healthy, and help avoid cancer and heart disease.

Moderate weight training – such as on machines at the gym – has been shown to help maintain muscle bulk as we age – an important factor, as many falls by old people are due to weakened muscles.

The latest research shows an additional benefit of weight training: it reduces cancer.

In this study, scientists led from Sweden’s Karolinska Institute, tracked 8,677 men aged between 20 and 82 for more than two decades, and studied their weight training habits.

The results were that men who regularly worked out with weights and had the greatest  muscle strength were 30 to 40 per cent less likely to die from a cancerous tumour.

Exercise Regime

It seems clear that exercise needs to be of two kinds:

1. Aerobic exercise – such as fast walking, swimming, running – any exercise where there is no rest. This should be for 20 minutes or more twice a week.

2. Weight training of the major muscle groups, also twice a week, and perhaps for 45 minutes a time. However, previously, it was thought that this just prevented muscle degeneration with aging.  This study seems to show a protective benefit against cancer too.

Although the study was of men, women should benefit too. Weight training does not have to result in big muscles – your trainer will advise if you don’t want to ‘get chunky’!

Report

Weight Train To Avoid Cancer is a post from: Living To 150

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Heart disease research has taken a step forward because of a new technique. This technique is not only kinder to animals, but is much cheaper in use and so it means more research can be done.

Pigs are often used in heart research because their heart valves resemble those of humans. The new technique accurately simulates blood flow in the heart by connecting it to equipment on a laboratory bench.

Thus the heart is attached to equipment outside the pig. The results of any experiments carried out can be obtained much, much more quickly and easily.

The new technique will mean that a piece of research might only cost cost $25 instead of around $2500 if it was carried out on a live pig – a massive saving.

Obviously, this means that many more pieces of research will be possible and medical advanced will be multiplied.

Finally, the trauma for the poor animals will be much less.

Article

Technorati Profile

New Technique Boosts Heart Research is a post from: Living To 150

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Millions of people facing blindness because of AMD (age-related macular degeneration) will receive respite thanks to UK stem cell research. The collaboration between world-famous Moorfields Eye Hospital and University College, both London based, will see a 45 minutes operation which is expected to enable surgeons to ‘patch ‘ the damage caused by the disease.

The treatment has a good chance of being as successful and common place as cataract surgery by around 2015.

In the UK about 25% of the population over 65 are affected by AMD, so this treatment will benefit many people. About half a million suffer from AMD at the moment in the UK.

Stem Cell Ethics Question

The treatment is controversial because it used embryonic stem cells – raising the questions of stem cell ethics. However, the huge benefits may convince all but the strongest opponents of embryonic stem cell research that the benefits are worth it.

Furthermore, as research methods become more sophisticated, it will be possible to carry out research like this using types of stem cells other than embryonic ones.

Story: Daily Express offline edition

Blindness – Stem Cells Speed Cure is a post from: Living To 150

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The issue of stem cell ethics has once more arisen; this time related to blood transfusions.

Britain is a leading nation in stem cell research, mainly because America was held back until recently by ex-President Bush’s funding restrictions, since reversed by President Obama.

New UK research now plans to have infection-free blood available for infusions within 3 years – synthesised from embryonic stem cells.

Blood Transfusion Safety

Blood from donors has the disadvantage of occasional contamination. The worst case of this was probably the large number of haemophiliacs – who need regular transfusions – being infected with HIV before it’s transmission through blood was fully identified.

In addition, it is possible to transmit hepatitis through the blood, as well as variant CJD the human form of BSE or "mad cow disease".

Blood Transfusion Safety Shortage

The blood produced would be from the group O-Rhesus negative – the one blood type, which is accepted by everyone. It would be  a huge advantage to have large quantities of this type of blood available.

This would make it much easier to deal with emergencies – not least in battlefield situations, when blood supplies easily run out.

Joint funding

The research will be funded by the NHS, the Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service and the Wellcome Trust - the medical research charity.

Now the ban on federal funding for research has been overturned in America it is expected that the Americans will resume their own research in this area.

Ethics Issue

Ethically there will be objections to the use of embryonic stem cells. Hopefully these will be overcome. The massive benefit of having unlimited, safe blood for transfusions must outweigh moral considerations of using spare embryos left over from IVF treatment, for example.

It’s not as if huge numbers of cells will be needed; theoretically, at least, only one cell will fulfil all our needs.

Safe Blood

If we can get beyond the ethics issue, this will be a great relief to know that blood received from transfusion scan be 100% guaranteed to be free of infection – and available in sufficient quantity.

Read more

Stem Cell Ethics Issue – Blood Transfusions is a post from: Living To 150

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Scientists have used genetic engineering to create a new type of DNA by incorporating eight extra nucleotides – the ‘letters’ of DNA – into it. The eight ‘extras’ are slight modifications of the four nucleotides DNA usually consists of.

The new DNA is structured in a double helix, as DNA usually is.

The result of this genetic biotechnology is a mixture of oil and water in a beaker in a laboratory containing a new, artificial organism. The beaker has to be fed nutrients and alternately warmed and cooled to make the whole thing work.

Within two years, Dr Steven Benner at the American Association for the Advancement of Science hopes to make a self-sustaining version.

The two applications Dr Benner saw for his system were in medicine, and in researching possible alien life. The latter would be helped because it would be useful to study how an alternative system to our own developed.

Genetic Engineering Uses Synthetic DNA is a post from: Living To 150

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Biotech company Geron has been given the go-ahead by US Regulators to use embryonic stem cells in humans for the first time. Clinical trials will begin for patients with severe injuries of the spinal cord.

They intend to recruit 8 patients and follow them for a year.

This has great implications for anyone with spinal damage as well as anyone who wants to promote longevity – healthy aging.

Geron has been at the vanguard of stem cell research, but has been held back tremendously by President Bush’s ban on federal funding for embryonic stem cell research.

Embryonic Stem Cells

The benefit of embryonic stem cells, as opposed to adult stem cells, is that the former can differentiate into any cell in the body. This gives embryonic stem cells much more restorative power than their less flexible cousins, adult stem cells.

Gernon’s CEO said:

This goes beyond pills and scalpels to achieve a new level of healing.

Through the use of embryonic stem cells – or stem cells mimicking these – growth of replacement organs and tissues will become commonplace treatments. The benefits for long life are obvious.

Backward Thinking Bush

During Bush’s administration, biotech companies often decided to divert money from embryonic stem cell research into the much less promising adult stem cell research. This has dramatically slowed down the progress which would have been possible.

Although some caution is necessary, the benefits of embryonic stem cell research will be staggering.

Again, Gernon’s CEO says:

…if we can turn a quadriplegic into someone who can walk with a cane, this will go fast-track like lightning."

I am sure that is true.

Superman Vindicated

This is the sort of research that Christopher Reeve – ex Superman actor – spend much of his life fighting for after his horse-riding accident. It is sad that his life was not long enough to experience the benefits of this research.

President Obama opposed Bush’s ban on federal funding for embryonic stem cell research; so we can expect to see his ban reversed soon.

Once this happens, increased benefits will start to flow in a few short years. Everyone interested in longevity should welcome this change in American policy.

Longevity Company Tackles Spinal Damage with Stem Cells is a post from: Living To 150

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Many of us don’t want animals to be used at all in research – even if we will thereby live longer; however, at the same time, we do want the medical advances which such research allows.

Better medical treatment of Alzheimers Disease or cancer, for example would be most welcome – especially if it was needed for ourselves or a close relative. And most of us would like to live a longer, healthier life. Some advances in these conditions do depend, sadly, on animal research.

New Techniques

Happily, modern techniques have reduced the use of animals in research markedly. The use of rats and mice has reduced in some facilities by 80%.

At the same time, the results of testing have actually improved – largely because human cells can be used for much research.

Many experiments are being carried out on cells in test tubes. This is possible because skills have improved; and because of another controversial approach: the use of stem cells.

Stem Cells Are Vital – For Testing and Longevity

Most cells can divide and produce only copies of themselves. Stem cells, however, can differentiate into various body cells; hence their value. This means, for example, that a stem cell might be persuaded to divide and produce a heart cell or a muscle cell. This cluster of cells can then be used for accurate testing

Or, to further longevity, the cells can be grown into tissue for transplant. A recent story describes a case where longer life was certainly achieved by growing a person’s stem cells into part of a windpipe to replace their diseased one.

Stem Cell Controversy

From a longevity point of view, stem cells are the way in which organ replication will be enabled not far in the future.

The controversy over stem cells mainly centres around ‘embryonic stem cells’. However, stem cells are available from other sources in adult bodies, such as bone marrow. Use of these cells in less controversial – though knee-jerk reactions against their use are in evidence. We mustn’t throw the baby out with the bathwater.

Stem cells are so valuable to promote healthy aging and a longer life – because the tissue match can be perfect. Rejection by the body’s immune system is thus avoided.

Difficult Choices for Healthy Aging

The use of techniques such as using stem cells will mean fewer and fewer animals used in research as well as better results in many cases.

Until then, we face the difficult choice of balancing the amount of animal research with the reduction in human suffering such research – even at a reduced level – can bring.

Animal Research Dramatically Reduced is a post from: Living To 150

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Important Longevity Weapon

Many, if not most, people die eventually of an infection which gets hold because we are weakened for some reason. Pneumonia is common. It is important for longevity that we can deal with such infections effectively as well as other immune system challenges such as autoimmune diseases.

Most drug companies have cut back on antibiotic research because it is not cost effective for them. They spend fortunes to develop an antibiotic, then the microbes jolly well adapt to it! Conventional drug companies also have little idea how to deal effectively with autoimmune diseases.

Some smaller biotech companies, however, are quickly developing very effective approaches to dealing with immune system problems.

The "Therapeutic Antibody" Approach

Simon Moroney, CEO of MorphoSys, has a library of 12 billion human antibodies, which provides the company with valuable data to help them to use simple building blocks to fight disease.

Antibodies are the weapons our defensive white blood cells use to fight infection and disease. Sometimes, however, the white cells do not produce enough of the right type of antibodies to cure us. Morphosys has worked out how to create antibodies in a Lego-like fashion as well as how to deliver them to specific targets: such as to pathogenic cells (bacteria or viruses); or to deal with auto-immune diseases, such as many cancers, rheumatoid arthritis, some thyroid diseases and lupus.

This therapeutic antibody approach is currently hot medicine.

It holds tremendous promise for longevity as it will be:

• Effective
• Quick to construct a closely targeted agent, and
• Will have few side effects

It will be interesting to see whether existing drug companies can take over companies like MorphoSys and keep up their ‘business as usual’; or whether the smaller companies’ size is a big advantage to them in this rapidly growing field of biotechnology. Either way, this is great medicine on the horizon for those interested in longevity.

“Therapeutic Antibodies” Target Bacteria & Cancer Cells is a post from: Living To 150

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