Methuselah Foundation backs mouse study exploring epigenetic reprogramming therapy to address age-related decline in bone marrow function.

Cell rejuvenation company Turn Biotechnologies has announced the launch of a new preclinical study aimed at evaluating the effectiveness of its epigenetic reprogramming therapy in rejuvenating bone marrow stem cells. The research, conducted in collaboration with the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) and supported by Methuselah Foundation , seeks to address the age-related decline in bone marrow function that impairs the body’s ability to produce disease-fighting cells, mitigate inflammation and maintain overall health.

Turn Bio specializes in mRNA-based therapeutics leveraging epigenetic reprogramming to repair tissue and restore cellular function. The company’s proprietary ERA (Epigenetic Reprogramming of Aging) technology aims to combat the epigenomic changes associated with aging, allowing cells to regain their capacity to heal, regenerate and fight disease.

My take on this: Turn Bio, known for its work in areas like dermatology, immunology, and muscular disorders, is now exploring bone marrow rejuvenation with its latest study – a groundbreaking shift in its focus.

Bone marrow serves as the body’s reservoir for blood-forming stem cells, responsible for producing essential components such as B and T cells that combat infections and inflammation. As humans age, their bone marrow’s efficiency declines, leading to reduced production of these critical immune cells and increased susceptibility to clonal hematopoiesis, a precursor to leukemia. By targeting these aged cells, Turn Bio aims to reverse these effects, restoring youthful function to the marrow and enhancing its therapeutic potential.

“This study represents a significant milestone for Turn Bio as it demonstrates how we are taking our science beyond individual therapeutics to create solutions for a variety of diseases. We are optimistic it will validate the dramatic impact of epigenetic reprogramming in improving the human healthspan,” said Turn Bio CEO Anja Krammer . “We have repeatedly demonstrated that ERA treatments can safely rejuvenate human cells. This is an opportunity to bring theory to life.”

The new preclinical investigation is expected to offer insights into the feasibility of rejuvenating human bone marrow for transplantation. Bone marrow transplants are a critical treatment for various conditions, including certain cancers, blood disorders and autoimmune diseases.

The study, led by Dr Tim Olson of CHOP, will focus on evaluating the rejuvenating effects of Turn’s ERA therapy on mouse blood progenitor cells, which will then be transplanted into genetically identical irradiated mice.

“Multiple studies of clinical bone marrow transplant outcomes have identified that patients who receive donor stem cells from young donors have superior outcomes, owing to more durable correction of underlying blood and immune defects, with lower risks of graft dysfunction and donor clonal hematopoiesis,” said Olson. “We hope the study shows that epigenetic reprogramming can help to make bone marrow transplants both more effective and more accessible to patients.”

Learn more about this study and gain additional insights from Methuselah Foundation's David Gobel right HERE.

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