NANOTECHNOLOGY NEWS Living To 120 With Ease!

SALES - SUPPORT - SULTAN - OPERATIONS - WEBMASTER

Source: Northeastern University, Boston http://www.nupr.neu.edu/7-03/ceremedix.html LIVING TO 120 WITH EASE New drug could fight Alzheimer's, lung disease, even aging (7-3-03) BOSTON, Mass. - A new pill, developed by CereMedix, a biotech startup at Northeastern University, could restore the body's natural defenses so drastically that people might routinely live to be a healthy 120 years old, researchers say. The substance, which promotes the production of natural anti-oxidants, is set to be tested in two prescription forms, one designed to repair lung damage from smoking and the other to speed recovery from heart surgery. In prescription form, the drug could have valuable applications for a wide range of ailments, including Alzheimer's Disease, stroke and coronary damage, diabetes and virtually any illness that results from oxidative stress. In addition to the two prescription drugs in trial, CereMedix has another version in development: an over-the-counter supplement that would slow aging and increase energy by stimulating the production of natural anti-oxidants. The idea of using anti-oxidants is not new. Found in fruits and vegetables, the enzymes are known to help repair the body's natural defenses against aging. Conventional wisdom holds that, to absorb sufficient quantities of anti-oxidants, one would have to eat some 30 pounds of fruits and vegetables per day. But CereMedix - headed by CEO Steve Parkinson and president and lead researcher, Victor Shashoua - has developed a substance that stimulates the production of enough anti-oxidant enzymes to virtually stop the clock on aging. Parkinson, a Scottish entrepreneur and microbiologist, is wary of claiming that he and Shashoua have discovered the fountain of youth. But Shashoua points out that genetically, humans are capable of living between 120 and 160 years. However, few even come close, he says, because the human body is unable to repair the damage caused by aging. Initial tests have already shown startling successes. A rat that suffered a stroke was given the medicine and the effects of the stroke were almost completely reversed. Geriatric mice that received the drug were permanently rejuvenated. Preliminary tests even indicate that in cream form, the drug could have a rejuvenating effect on skin, which is big news for cosmetics companies. CereMedix is part of Northeastern's molecular biotechnology initiative and occupies 3,000 square feet in Northeastern's state-of-the-art research facility in the Egan Engineering/Science Research Center. Northeastern University, a private research institution located in Boston, Massachusetts, is a world leader in practice-oriented education. Building on its flagship cooperative education program, Northeastern links classroom learning with workplace experience and integrates professional preparation with study in the liberal arts and sciences. U.S. News & World Report, in its annual guide America's Best Colleges, 2003, ranked Northeastern University number one in the country among programs that "require or encourage students to apply what they're learning in the classroom out in the real world." In addition, Northeastern's career services was ranked #1 by Kaplan Newsweek's Unofficial Insiders Guide to the 320 Most Interesting Colleges and Universities, 2003 edition. For more information, please visit http://www.northeastern.edu.