A study reveals that rentosertib, an AI-developed drug, may reduce biological age in pulmonary fibrosis patients, marking a significant breakthrough in treatment.
A new study reveals that rentosertib, an AI-developed drug for pulmonary fibrosis, has the potential to reduce patients' estimated biological age. This research, published in Nature Biotechnology, highlights a significant advancement in drug development through artificial intelligence.
Developed by Insilico Medicine, rentosertib (ISM001-055) targets idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. The drug's molecular structure was crafted using Insilico's AI platforms: PandaOmics identified the relevant protein TNIK, while Chemistry42 designed the molecule to interact with it.
The study involved collaboration with researchers from esteemed institutions including Harvard Medical School and Stanford University. It included a phase 2a trial with 71 participants, who were given rentosertib over a 12-week period under various dosing regimens, including daily and single doses, alongside a placebo group.
Trial Results
In a randomized setup, neither participants nor researchers knew who received the active drug. The primary focus was on assessing safety and lung function changes, with initial results expected in June 2025. Analyzing data from 42 participants, researchers employed six proteomic aging clocks to estimate biological age based on blood protein composition.
The findings indicated a trend towards reduced biological age, especially noticeable at the four-week mark for those taking 30 mg twice daily, showing a decrease of about three to four years. One analysis even suggested a potential reduction of up to six years. However, these models do not necessarily correlate with increased lifespan.
Subsequent weeks did not show statistically significant further reductions in estimated age. The authors cautioned that it remains unclear whether the observed changes in blood proteins signify true biological aging effects or are merely a result of fibrosis treatment. They noted the small sample size and limited observation period as major limitations, calling for larger, longer studies to confirm these findings.
Insilico has announced that rentosertib is now advancing to phase three clinical trials in China for pulmonary fibrosis treatment. Meanwhile, the challenges faced by pharmaceutical companies using AI in drug development, particularly regarding regulatory approval, were underscored in a recent MIT Technology Review article.
