September 16, 2008 – Sirtris, a GSK Company focused on discovering and developing small molecule drugs to treat diseases of aging such as Type 2 Diabetes, announced that it has completed an agreement with Harvard University to exclusively license two patent applications covering SIRT3-based methods of treatments and assays.
Sirtuins are a family of enzymes which regulate the aging process and have been the subject of extensive research. While SIRT1 — the founding member of this class of enzymes — is currently the most studied in the group, considerable research is underway on other members in this family, SIRTs 2-7. A study by Sirtris Scientific Advisory Board members and Harvard University scientists, published in the journal Cell in September 2007, showed for the first time that activation of SIRT3 and SIRT4 protects against cell damage. The findings further validated sirtuins as important targets for treating diseases of aging. The two patent applications being exclusively licensed from Harvard include assays useful for identifying SIRT3 activators for diseases of aging... Sirtris' Press Release -
