Anti-aging drug - discovery of South Korean scientists

Scientists in South Korea have made a breakthrough in the fight against aging by creating a synthetic molecule called CGK733 that can rejuvenate human cells. A team led by Professor Kim Tae-kook from the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology presented their findings in the prestigious journal Nature Chemical Biology. CGK733 has the potential not only to block the aging process but also to restore youthful energy to cells. However, experts are cautious about the substance's practical applications, pointing to the need for further research into its safety and side effects.

A team of South Korean scientists said on Sunday, June 11, they had created a "cellular fountain of youth," a small particle that allows human cells to avoid the process of aging and dying.

The team, led by Professor Kim Tae-kook (pictured) from the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, has created a synthetic molecule, called CGK733, that can even cause cell rejuvenation.

The discovery was presented by the British website Nature Chemical Biology Online on Monday, June 12, and the story will appear in the offline print version of the journal, which will be released in July.

"All cells face inevitable death as they age. During the study, the cells became lethargic and eventually began to divide, but it turned out that CGK733 could block this process," Kim said.

"We also found that the synthetic mixture can reverse the aging process by reviving lethargic cells. Theoretically, it could restore youth to older people by rejuvenating cells," said Kim, 41.

In this photo the CGK733 is visible on the right

Kim expected CGK733-based drugs that significantly increase the longevity of youthful cells to be commercialized in less than 10 years.

Other researchers praise the discovery but are cautious about the practical therapeutic use of the new substance.

This is obviously a novel finding. However, we need to know whether CGK733 could or could not rejuvenate cells inside the human body without causing side effects," said Professor Kim Sung-hoon at Seoul National University.

Professor Kim Tae-kook, however, is confident about the commercial viability of CGK733 because he believes the material's performance will be produced using artificial magnetic nanoprobe technology.

"We have magnetic technology to identify molecular targets inside living cells, which allowed us to directly test CGK733's mechanism of action," Kim said.

"Unlike other research teams that have to create drug materials without being able to observe their cellular activity, we know the exact mechanism of action of CGK733. This means we have a greater chance of making this substance successful," he added.

Kim gained international fame in June when he and his colleagues developed a technology they called MAGIC, which stands for magnetic interaction.

MAGIC uses fluorescent materials to test whether a given drug can bind to specific proteins within cells. The global effects were reported by the American journal Science at the Time.

"MAGIC is a kind of source technology that allows you to see inside cells. Based on this method, we have discovered several promising substances that may be effective in fighting cancer," Kim said.