Biotech Firm Administers World's First Anti-Ageing Gene Therapy in Human Trial

A clinical trial has commenced the first human application of a gene therapy designed to reverse biological ageing. The treatment involves the delivery of the hTERT (human telomerase reverse transcriptase) gene, which aims to repair and lengthen telomeres—the protective caps at the ends of chromosomes that shorten as cells divide and age. Targeting Telomere Extension The procedure, conducted by biotech firm Libella Gene Therapeutics at a facility in Colombia, focuses on cellular senescence. Scientists believe that by extending telomeres, they can reset the cellular clock, potentially reversing a patient's biological age by up to 20 years. This approach shifts medical focus from treating individual age-related diseases to addressing the fundamental biological process of ageing itself. Telomeres naturally degrade over time, a process linked to genomic instability and the onset of conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease and cardiovascular failure. The hTERT therapy uses an adeno-associated virus (AAV) vector to transport the genetic material into the subject's cells, encouraging the production of telomerase, an enzyme typically active only in embryos and stem cells. Clinical Context…