In conversation with Dr Eric Leire, chief executive of Genflow Biosciences, we delve into the company's groundbreaking work in the field of longevity. Genflow, a global biotech entity with R&D facilities in Belgium and a U.S. office in Cambridge, Massachusetts, aims to extend healthspan and potentially lifespan in humans.
Thomas Warner (TW): Let's start by discussing the core mission of Genflow Biosciences. Could you elaborate on your focus on healthspan over lifespan?
Dr Eric Leire: At Genflow Biosciences, we aim to extend healthspan, which is the period of life spent in good health, free from chronic diseases. While modern medicine has successfully extended lifespan, it hasn't been as effective in extending healthspan. Our primary objective is to tackle age-related diseases like cancer, cardiovascular disease, Alzheimer's, and diabetes, thereby enhancing the quality of life of an ageing population.
TW: You mentioned your IP based on the SIRT6 gene. Could you elaborate on the significance of this gene in the context of longevity?
Dr Leire: Certainly. The SIRT6 gene is part of the Sirtuin gene family, which has been extensively studied for its role in ageing. We are particularly interested in a centenarian version of SIRT6. This rare mutation, found only in individuals who live more than 100 years, offers a patented way to act on the drivers of ageing. It's a significant asset in our fight against age-related diseases.
TW: How did you identify this particular gene variant? What was the research process?
Dr Leire: The journey began with a study published in 2019 in Cell by Dr. Vera Gorbunova’s team at the University of Rochester. The study correlated lifespan differences in rodents with the quality of their SIRT6 genes. This study inspired a SIRT6 sequencing survey involving 1,000 individuals, including 450 centenarians. This rare mutation was identified, which led to the creation of Genflow Biosciences.
TW: What are the current applications of this gene therapy? Are there specific diseases you are targeting?
Dr Leire: We initially started with Werner syndrome (a disease that accelerate ageing). Now, we're also focusing on Non-Alcoholic Steatohepatitis (NASH), a liver disease. Liver is intriguing because it can regenerate, making it an excellent target for longevity research. Our preclinical results have shown significant impact of the centenarian SIRT6 on fat deposition, inflammation, fibrosis, and anti-tumour effect in the liver.
TW: Could you elaborate on the milestones that Genflow Biosciences has achieved and what we can expect in the next 18 months?
Dr Leire: We recently had a positive first interaction with European health agency, Federal Agency for Medicines and Health Products (FAHMP) , confirming the validity of our preclinical work. This is a significant milestone. We are also in the process of negotiating grants that will cover 80% of our R&D programme for the next three years. These milestones will accelerate our pathway to clinical trials and potentially bring our therapies to market.
TW: You mentioned that Genflow Biosciences is a global company. Could you discuss the importance of having a global presence in the biotech industry?
Dr Leire: A global presence is crucial in biotech. Our scientific advisory board is international, and we believe that you cannot build a biotech company on a national basis. Talent and resources are global, and having a diversified geographical footprint allows us to tap into the best of what the world has to offer.
TW: What misconceptions about the biotech industry and Genflow Biosciences would you like to address?
Dr Leire: The main misconceptions are that longevity is only for billionaires and that biotech is a high-risk investment. We aim to make our therapies accessible to everyone. Also, we have mitigated financial risks through grants, making us a less risky investment compared to other early-stage biotech companies.
TW: Are there any companies in the longevity space that you find particularly intriguing, without considering them as direct competitors?
Dr Leire: I have great admiration for the solid research currently conducted in academic setting. But captivating research is also conducted in for-profit organizations such as Altos Lab or Unity. Companies like InSilico or Gero that merge Artificial Intelligence (AI) and biology are also fascinating. The field of longevity will benefit from multiple companies contributing to the solutions.
TW: Finally, could you discuss the role of your Scientific Advisory Board? How do they contribute to the research and development at Genflow Biosciences?
Dr Leire: Our Scientific Advisory Board plays an integral role. Unlike typical biotech companies, where advisory boards are consulted occasionally, we work extremely closely with ours. They are involved in in-vivo studies and contribute significantly to our R&D efforts. Their expertise has been invaluable in guiding our research direction.
