Telomir Pharmaceuticals announces preclinical findings on Telomir-1

Telomir Pharmaceuticals (TELO) announced preclinical findings demonstrating that Telomir-1 reduces tumor size by approximately 50% in a prostate cancer animal model using highly aggressive human prostate cancer cells. It was found that Telomir-1 actively suppresses cancer growth rather than promoting it, and protects against chemotherapy-induced toxicity and mortality when combined with Paclitaxel-a widely used chemotherapy drug known for its effectiveness in treating various cancers but often associated with severe toxicity and side effects. Key findings include: Telomir-1 alone at both low and high doses reduced tumor growth by approximately 50%. Contrary to concerns that telomere-elongating drugs may promote cancer, Telomir-1 demonstrated the opposite effect-actively suppressing tumor development, while selectively benefiting healthy cells. In the group treated with Paclitaxel alone, severe toxicity was observed, leading to significant weight loss and mortality of one-third of the animals. However, when low-dose Telomir-1 was added to Paclitaxel, no mortality occurred. Paclitaxel and other chemotherapy agents induce toxicity largely through oxidative stress, which results in excessive damage to healthy cells and contributes to severe side effects. It is known that metal ions such as iron and copper play significant roles in amplifying the reactive oxygen species-mediated effects of Paclitaxel, primarily through their involvement in redox chemistry and the Fenton reaction. A long-standing concern in longevity science is that drugs that elongate telomeres may promote cancer, as cancer cells rely on telomere size maintenance for immortality. Telomir-1 has already been shown in multiple human cell lines to successfully elongate telomeres, raising this theoretical risk. However, this latest study demonstrates that Telomir-1 does not promote cancer growth but instead has anti-cancer effects, directly inhibiting tumor growth and reducing tumor size in a prostate cancer model. This finding suggests that Telomir-1 may selectively benefit healthy cells while suppressing malignant growth, challenging the assumption that telomere-elongating drugs inherently increase cancer risk. Telomir Pharmaceuticals is actively advancing Telomir-1 across multiple indications. In addition to oncology, ongoing studies are evaluating Telomir-1 in age-related diseases such as age-related macular degeneration and Wilson’s disease, a rare orphan disorder affecting copper metabolism. The company is prioritizing the fastest pathway to clinical trials and aims to submit its Investigational New Drug application by year-end.