Telomir Pharmaceuticals Inc (NASDAQ:TELO) saw its stock jump 38% following the announcement of encouraging in vitro results for its lead drug candidate, Telomir-1. The data revealed that the compound effectively inhibits UTX (KDM6A), an enzyme long deemed “undruggable” and linked to cancer and aging.
The preclinical-stage biotech firm reported that Telomir-1 potently blocks UTX, which acts as an “eraser” for chemical tags on DNA-packaging proteins. Abnormal UTX activity can switch off protective genes while activating harmful ones, a mechanism implicated in cancer, autoimmune conditions, and neurodegenerative diseases.
These findings build on earlier research showing that Telomir-1 also targets other epigenetic regulators, including FBXL10, FBXL11, and JMJD3. In prostate cancer models, the compound reactivated silenced tumor suppressor genes like STAT1 and TMS1 by reversing abnormal DNA methylation patterns.
“Everything from cancer to aging to autism has been linked to faulty DNA methylation. Telomir-1 is capable to jointly reset several of those methylation patterns – which could make it one of the first drugs to address the root biology driving so many diseases,” said Erez Aminov, CEO of Telomir.
The company also noted that Telomir-1 did not affect GCN5L2, an enzyme whose inhibition can lead to broad toxicity, suggesting the drug may offer a safer profile compared with existing epigenetic therapies.
Telomir Pharmaceuticals focuses on developing treatments that target fundamental mechanisms underlying cancer, aging, and related diseases. Investor enthusiasm for the stock reflects optimism about the potential for Telomir-1 to address previously “undruggable” targets.
Telomir Pharmaceuticals stock price
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