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BioMarker's Proprietary Discovery System
Much of our work focuses upon calorie restriction (CR), the single most scientifically validated model for life span extension. In this area, BioMarker has developed a proprietary animal model-based assay that can identify leads that possess CR mimetic activity.
BioMarker is identifying the mechanisms underlying the genomic, proteomic and physiological responses to CR and other extended lifespan models, and their relationship to disease. Over a hundred genes have been identified that significantly change expression level in response to CR, and these cluster into several families, including genes responsible for metabolism, signal transduction, extracellular matrix, cytoskeleton, growth factors, immune response, inflammation, and coding for stress and chaperone proteins. We use these genes as biomarkers to guide the development of pharmaceuticals, by using profiling of target genes to identify interventions that mimic the gene expression effect1.
The promise of this discovery system is significant:
- Gene expression changes occur rapidly (the majority within two months);
- Evidence provided by older animal responses to CR diets strongly suggest that mimetics will work in older individuals, and will provide immediate benefits;
- There is a significant correlation between CR response in the (rodent) animal model and non-human primates; and
- Information is rapidly accumulating establishing the same correlation in humans.
For more information, and for opportunities regarding pharmaceutical discovery partnering activities, please contact us.
1Biomarkers of aging affected by calorie restriction include:
DHEAS ( ↑)
Insulin (↓)
Body temperature (↓)
Thyroid axis (↓)
HPA axis (↑↓)
Gonadotropic axis (↓)Energy expenditure (↓)
Voluntary activity (↑↓)
Oxidative stress(↓)
Somatotropic axis (↓)
Intramyocellular lipids (↓)
Fat mass/fat-free mass (↓)
Visceral fat (↓)
Insulin sensitivity (↑)
IGF-1 (↓)
