Finalist Teams Awarded $1 Million in XPrize Healthspan Contest to Transform Healthy Aging

The XPrize Healthspan—which will split $101 million among teams developing therapeutics to restore muscle, cognitive, and immune function in older adults—has named 10 teams receiving $1 million each.

(XPrize announced the finalists for its XPrize Healthspan competition | XPrize)

The XPrize Healthspan competition has named its top 20 finalist groups that will submit their aging intervention therapies for human trial testing.

Aging &amp; Longevity

A molecule known as miR-302b prolongs the life of mice by “waking up” senescent cells — “sleeping” cells that contribute to life-shortening chronic diseases. 

Depiction of microRNA molecules (Image: Artur Plawgo/iStock Photo/MIT.edu). 

Model: 24-month-old female Sprague Dawley rats
Dosage: Undisclosed doses of pig-derived exosomes were injected into the rats every-other-day for eight days starting at day 1 and recommencing at days 68, 181, 280, and 377

Nano-Sized Vesicle Infusions Break Rat Lifespan Record

Nano-sized vesicles called exosomes derived from pig blood plasma significantly extended rat lifespan and broke the record for the longest-living rat.

(An image of Sima, the longest-recorded living rat, at 47 months of age | The Guardian)

Harnessing Stem Cells to Fight Aging

Research has uncovered embryonic, induced pluripotent, and adult stem cell therapies with promising results against age-related neurological, diabetic, and reproductive conditions.

(Blood sample tube containing stem cells | Shutterstock)

Seven different types of stem cells can be used to counter aging-related diseases, but using cellular vesicles associated with their signaling capabilities may be the safest way to harness their therapeutic potential.

Reviews

Model: Male mice
Dose: Intravenous injection of 100 µL of cold-temperature-exposed exosomes

Cold Exposure Reduces Blood Vessel Hardening while Deterring Senescence

Exposing mice to cold reduces artery calcium buildup and releases vesicles that reduce senescent cells — cells that promote aging.  

Cross-section of arteries from mice exposed to room temperature (left) or cold temperature (right) with calcification stained in red.

Search Result: Exosomes

10 Finalist Teams Awarded $1 Million in XPrize Healthspan Contest to Transform Healthy Aging

New Age-Reversal Therapy Prolongs Life by Targeting Senescent Cells

Nano-Sized Vesicle Infusions Break Rat Lifespan Record

Harnessing Stem Cells to Fight Aging

Chilling News for Vascular Aging: Cold Exposure Reduces Blood Vessel Hardening while Deterring Senescence