An anti-cancer drug that has been found to extend life

On January 23, 2023, researchers from the University of Auckland in New Zealand released an article titled "Dietary supplementation of clinically utilized PI3K p110α inhibitor extends the lifespan of male and female mice" in Nature Aging.

This research takes the pursuit of immortality a step farther. The study found that using Alpelisib, a cancer drug, as a food supplement, can increase the average longevity of healthy mice by 10% starting in middle age, and behave better in old age group.

Alpelisib, an oral small molecule alpha-specific PI3K inhibitor developed by Novartis, was approved for marketing by the FDA in 2019 in combination with Fulvestrant for the treatment of patients with HR+/HER2- advanced or metastatic breast cancer carrying a mutation in the PIK3CA gene.

Middle-aged healthy mice were fed either a control diet or the same food with the Alpelisib drug added in this investigation. The findings revealed that mice fed an Alpelisib-containing diet not only survived longer, but also exhibited evidence of improved health in old age, such as improved coordination and strength.

Aging is not only about longevity, but also about quality of life, the team said. And this study shows that Alpelisib treatment not only extended the life span of healthy mice, but they also exhibited many signs of healthy aging. The research team is learning more about how these effects occur.

Professor Peter Shepherd, the author of the paper, said, "Alpelisib targets an enzyme called PI3K and we have been working on developing drugs that target PI3K for more than 20 years since studies have revealed that the PI3K pathway is over-activated in many malignancies. It is exciting to see the use of PI3K inhibitors outside of cancer, since this shows novel processes that contribute to age-related disorders, demonstrating the worth of long-term investment in this science."

According to Associate Professor Troy Merry, the paper's corresponding author, it is not recommended that people take this drug for a long time to extend their life because it has some side effects as an anti-cancer drug, such as possibly causing high blood sugar, lung problems, allergic reactions, skin problems, and diarrhea. In addition, various negative effects were observed in this mouse trial, such as potentially creating reduced bone mass in mice. However, this research highlights essential aging pathways and will aid in the development of methods to prolong and maintain healthy longevity. This study also shows some potential applications for short-term Alpelisib treatment of specific metabolic health issues, which the research team is now investigating.