The study, done on 98 diabetes patients in India who
had never been treated for the disease, was aimed at determining the safety
of two different doses of the drug known as SRT501. In addition to finding
that the drug was well-tolerated in the 28-day trial, CEO Christoph Westphal
said the company "saw a strong trend toward SRT501 lowering glucose."
"It was an unexpected surprise," said Westphal.
"We believe this is the first time a drug candidate targeted to the
genes that control the aging process has been shown to be beneficial in
human patients in a disease of aging."
Past study results have led some to dub SRT501 as a "fountain
of youth" drug because of its potential to target a range of diseases
of aging.
Phase 2 of the study will be a three-month programme
and will include 130 patients and yield results later this year. Still,
despite positive early results, SRT501 is at least four years away from
market, says Westphal.
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