Barriers to the Preclinical Development of Therapeutics that Target Aging Mechanisms

Area of Science:

• Geroscience
• Translational Medicine
• Drug Development

Background:

• Basic science research is elucidating fundamental mechanisms of age-related decline.
• Despite identifying potential drug targets and life-extending compounds in model organisms, clinical translation remains limited.
• Barriers hinder the progression of aging research discoveries into clinical practice.

Purpose of the Study:

• To summarize discussions from a 2014 Geroscience Network retreat focused on preclinical drug development hurdles.
• To identify and address key issues impeding the translation of aging research into clinical therapeutics.
• To propose areas for further research to establish a cohesive preclinical drug development pipeline.

Main Methods:

• The study summarizes discussions from a Geroscience Network retreat.
• It focuses on five key issues in preclinical drug development: drug discovery, lead compound development, translational preclinical biomarkers, funding, and researcher-clinician integration.
• The report expands on retreat discussions and suggests future research directions.

Main Results:

• Aging researchers hold diverse views on the optimal preclinical pipeline.
• Several controversial areas require resolution and new tools are needed for progress.
• Five critical issues in preclinical drug development were identified and discussed.

Conclusions:

• Resolving key issues in drug discovery, lead compound development, biomarkers, funding, and integration is crucial.
• Developing new tools and fostering collaboration are essential for advancing preclinical drug development in aging.
• The findings aim to provide a foundation for a unified preclinical drug development pipeline for aging research.