It’s all about the drug LOY-001. An American startup has been given permission to test it further. According to the US food and drug watchdog FDA, the drug may have a ‘beneficial effect’ on a longer lifespan for larger dogs. If the result is positive, a first version of the drug may be marketed from 2026, American media report.
What is this medicine and how does it work?
LOY-001 focuses on the aging process in dogs. It works like this: every animal (and every human being) has cells. Most cells can divide approximately 60 to 70 times. After this, the cell goes into complete rest. The older you are, the more ‘extinct’ cells you have.
“The new drug inhibits the action of the hormone IGF-1,” says Mathias Devreese, professor of animal pharmacology at Ghent University. “That hormone also ensures that cells divide. The larger the dog, the more of the hormone IGF-1 is present in the animal. By inhibiting the hormone and therefore also cell division, the aging process also slows down. For the sake of clarity, : this medicine is only effective at slowing down cell division and aging, so it does not make your dog healthier.”
LOY-001 would only be effective for large dogs, because the metabolism of small dogs works differently. “Small breeds have less of the hormone IGF-1, which means they stay smaller and live longer. And a good dose is of vital importance, because muscles also need the hormone. So completely shutting down is not possible.”
The first steps for the new medicine have been taken in the US, but this has not yet been achieved in Europe. Here we are dealing with the European Medicines Agency (EMA) and the Medicines Evaluation Board (MEB). These two organizations review and evaluate all medications for market approval.
“Usually, approval from the FDA is a good starting point for approval from the EMA, but that process will also take years. There is still a difference between America and Europe,” says Devreese. “In the US, hormonal products are approved earlier than in the EU. There may be risks associated with tinkering with the DNA or cells of humans and animals.”
Animal ethics
Franck Meijboom, professor of veterinary ethics at Utrecht University, also comments on this development. “In the Netherlands it is noticeable that we are increasingly seeing our pets as full-fledged family members that deserve high-quality care. This humanization also has risks: for whom are we actually extending the life of a companion animal?”
“In the US, tinkering with people and animals quickly results in the response ‘why not’,” says Meijboom. “In Europe we tend to ask ourselves ‘why?’ I think it is important to start from the health and well-being of the animal. Death is part of it. Perhaps the sadness over the loss of your dog will ultimately be greater if you have it with you for as long as possible.”
It is not yet possible to say whether people’s lives could also be extended in the long term with this development. To achieve this, much more research must first be done into human metabolism and hormone balance. The CEO of the American startup behind the drug LOY-001 is happy with it. “Dogs are considered a model for human aging. They also develop age-related diseases over the years. If we can do this for dogs, people will want it too.”
2023-12-28 12:47:01
#Longer #dog #life #closer #experimental #medicine
