What if aging was not a disgusting process? This slogan was chosen by the new branch of Harvard University, which plans to spend millions on a hotly debated discovery in the field of regenerative medicine.
This Elevian startup located in San Francisco, engaged in the study of whether daily injections of the protein GDF11 “to recover” and eventually treat health problems, including coronary artery disease, Alzheimer’s disease and sarcopenia.
Getting old is no fun
The company is based on a study conducted a few years ago. Then the blood of young and old mice were blended to rejuvenate older mice, and it kind of worked.
Co-founder Elevian, Harvard biologist Amy Wagers, came to the conclusion that the protein GDF11 in young blood has become an important factor of recovery. Moreover, she and other scientists say that the level of this protein falls in the elderly, and thus increase its concentration can counteract some effects of aging.
Open, Wagers sparked wild interest, but when a major pharmaceutical company tried to repeat studies they did not succeed. In a study conducted in 2015, scientists from Novartis, found that GDF11 levels with age did not fall, and that this protein actually inhibits, not promotes regeneration of muscles.
However, the company Elevian promises to provide new data that will dispel doubts and will put the necessary focus for investors. At the moment Elevian attracted 5.5 million dollars of funding.
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Controversial method of rejuvenating the body attracted millions of dollars, despite the lack of evidence
Ilya Hel