Rival drug companies are questioning the effectiveness of a reservatrol derived drug developed by Glaxo that could treat diabetes and cancer, even slow down aging. Photo Credit: AFPJanuary 26, 2010, (Sawf News) - Rival drug companies are questioning the effectiveness of a reservatrol derived drug developed by Glaxo that could treat diabetes and cancer, even slow down aging.
Reservatrol, an ingredient of red wine, activates a protein in the body called sirtuin. The protein, produced by the Sirt gene from which it gets its name, is normally activated when energy levels in the body are low. Reservatrol can mimic calorie restriction leading to all the benefits that accrue from it.
Glaxo acquired Sirtris Pharmaceuticals of Cambridge Mass. is conducting clinical trials of resveratrol in a special formulation to see if it will slow aging.
The trials also include small-molecule drugs, which like resveratrol activate sirtuin, but can be given in much lower doses.
If proven successful in trials, the new 'miracle' drugs will increase longevity by mimicking caloric reduction whilst you continue to consume a normal diet. A 30% caloric reduction over normal diet can increase life expectancy by 30-40% in mice, though it rendered them less fertile. Similar results are observed in yeast and flies, though trials on primates have yielded ambiguous results.
According to Forbes.com, Pfizer researchers have questioned the ability of the Sirtis developed drug SRT1720 to alter the functioning of the Sirt gene in a report in the January Journal of Biological Chemistry.
Researchers from Amgen also did not meet with success in a similar study last year.
Sirtris was co-founded by Dr. David A. Sinclair, now of Harvard Medical School, who discovered the sir-2 gene with Leonard P. Guarente of M.I.T.. In 2007 Sirtris announced that its formulation SRT1720 lowered blood sugar in diabetic mice. Last year GlaxoSmithKline bought Sirtris for $720 million.
Pfizer researchers claim they cannot reproduce the blood sugar level reduction in their tests of SRT1720. In low doses the formulation had no effect on the level, with the mice gaining wait. With high doses, three of eight mice died.
Glaxo is unfazed by the questions raised by other researchers, attributing them to the differences in the formulations used.
Glaxo is also not touting its formulation as a longevity pill, but stressing on its diabetes and cancer treatment potential.
According to Glaxo's chief executive Anderw Witty, the drug Pfizer tested in animals is not the same ones that Glaxo is currently testing in people as possible diabetes or cancer treatments.
"We're not at all surprised that there's some controversy," says Glaxo's chief executive. "Because there always is. People always have different opinions. Frankly, we didn't think what was published was particularly comprehensive. We feel good about where we stand today."
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