To validate this score, PROSPR will run the first Phase 3 clinical trial targeting aging in people not yet diagnosed with a specific disease, evaluating three drug targets already approved by the FDA for other conditions: rapamycin, which acts on cellular pathways linked to aging; newer obesity and diabetes medications known as GLP-1 agonists; and diabetes drugs called SGLT-2 inhibitors that also benefit the heart and kidneys.
And as a second step
The program will then test whether novel compounds designed specifically to target aging biology can be evaluated the same way.
And can provide a valuable toolkit for biohackers too:
If the score proves accurate, it won’t just be a research tool; individuals could use a home testing kit to determine whether their lifestyle choices or treatments are actually making a difference. Our goal is to have that testing kit cost less than $100 by 2031.
Seems like the near term, first trial with rapa, dapa and sema (not the new novel drug candidates like the new Cambrian mTOR one) is as follows
The VITAL-H Trial Overview
Backed by up to $38 million in ARPA-H funding, UT Health San Antonio is launching the first nationwide clinical study focused on healthy longevity. Instead of targeting a specific disease, the trial aims to see if midlife interventions can delay age-related physical and cognitive decline in generally healthy adults aged 60 to 65.
To do this, they are repurposing three FDA-approved medications that have shown strong preclinical and early human data for targeting the biological hallmarks of aging:
• Rapamycin (mTOR inhibitor)
• Dapagliflozin (SGLT2 inhibitor)
• Semaglutide (GLP-1 receptor agonist)
This effort targets generally healthy adults ~60–65, with endpoints framed around Intrinsic Capacity plus decentralized/wearable measurement
A Stanford/Buck/Methuselah-linked team (“THRIVE”) is building an FDA-grade Intrinsic Capacity score (PROSPR-IC) intended to predict long-term outcomes and enable shorter trials.
A Columbia-led effort (“FAST”) will mine completed trials/biospecimens to find biomarkers that respond to interventions—including rapamycin, SGLT-2 inhibitors, GLP-1 agonists—to support PROSPR’s shorter trial model.
Yes, this is great news. Great drug selection. It seems like they’re listening to the scientific community when they selected these 3. Honestly, though, I would have added a lipid-lowering medication just to help prevent CVD deaths, which will skew the results due to death by heart attack/stroke. Dapagliflozin will help, but add a direct lipid-lowering med like BA and Ezetimibe, and I think the results will be better!