Insilico Medicine has published the results of a study showing that the artificial intelligence-designed drug rentosertib reduces the estimated biological age of patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. The data were obtained from blood sample analysis of phase 2a trial participants and confirmed in a paper published in Nature Biotechnology. The research was conducted in collaboration with scientists from Harvard Medical School, Stanford, the Broad Institute, and Peking University.
Rentosertib (ISM001-055) is an experimental drug whose molecule was entirely designed using the company's AI platforms. The AI system PandaOmics identified the protein TNIK as a potential target for fibrosis treatment, while the Chemistry42 platform generated a molecule capable of acting on that protein. The trial involved 71 patients who received the drug over 12 weeks under one of three regimens (30 mg once daily, 30 mg twice daily, or 60 mg as a single dose) or placebo. To assess changes in biological age, the researchers applied six proteomic "aging clocks" — algorithms that analyze the protein composition of blood. The analysis covered complete data from 42 participants, including 11 individuals from the placebo group.
The most pronounced results were observed at week four in patients receiving 30 mg of the drug twice daily: the estimated biological age decreased by approximately three to four years, and according to one model reached six years. Between weeks four and twelve, no additional statistically significant reduction occurred. It is important to note that the study's authors emphasize that these values reflect only changes in proteomic algorithm indicators and do not imply a corresponding increase in lifespan. The limitations of the study include a small sample size, a relatively short observation period, and the inability to determine whether the changes in protein levels reflect an effect on aging processes or solely the effect of treating the fibrosis itself. Additionally, during the original trial some patients discontinued the drug due to liver function abnormalities and diarrhea, indicating the need for further investigation of the safety profile. According to Insilico Medicine, rentosertib has already advanced to phase three clinical trials in China, where the drug's efficacy in treating idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis will be evaluated.