Podcast Summary: Translating Aging - Immunotherapy Breakthroughs with Hans Keirstead
Introduction: In this episode of Translating Aging, host Chris Patil welcomes Dr. Hans Keirstead, Chairman of the Board at Immunis, to discuss exciting developments in immunotherapy and the immune system's role in aging. Dr. Keirstead, a neuroscientist and serial entrepreneur, shares insights from his career focused on understanding and combatting age-related immune decline. The conversation also touches on the Human Immunome Project, an ambitious effort to map the immune system comprehensively across different populations.
Key Takeaways:
- Dr. Keirstead has successfully transitioned from academia to biotechnology, focusing on bringing cutting-edge therapies to the market.
- The immune system plays a crucial role in combating aging and age-related diseases, with inflammation being a major driver of immune dysfunction.
- Immunotherapy, specifically targeting the secretome—the collection of factors secreted by young immune cells—shows promise in reversing aspects of aging and improving quality of life.
- The Human Immunome Project aims to understand the diversity of the human immune system, potentially revolutionizing personalized medicine.
Key Points:
1. Dr. Keirstead's Background and Journey to Immunotherapy
Dr. Keirstead shares his journey from being a professor of anatomy and neurobiology to becoming an entrepreneur in the biotechnology industry. His initial interest in studying the human body and tackling challenging diseases led him to pursue applied research beyond academia. Over time, he founded multiple biotech companies, successfully taking therapies from concept to the market. This experience cultivated his passion for regulatory work and his expertise in developing clinical strategies to bring new treatments to patients efficiently.
Dr. Keirstead’s fascination with the immune system grew when he realized that cancer and other diseases often have a precondition of immune suppression. This realization led him to focus on targeting immune function as a means of extending the human health span and addressing age-related diseases. His transition to industry was driven by a desire to directly impact human health, using the knowledge gained in his research to tackle real-world medical challenges.
2. The Importance of the Immune System in Aging
Dr. Keirstead explains that as we age, our immune systems become increasingly pro-inflammatory, contributing to numerous aging-related issues such as muscle loss, arterial stiffness, neuroinflammation, and impaired wound healing. By targeting immune function, it is possible to mitigate these age-related symptoms and improve overall health. Immunis, the company Dr. Keirstead leads, has been exploring the potential of using the immune system’s secretome—a collection of secreted factors—to promote tissue regeneration and reduce inflammation.
He emphasizes that the immune system's role is integral to every manifestation of aging, and targeting these immune processes could be key to slowing down or even reversing the aging process. This has implications not just for physical health but also for cognitive function and overall well-being.
3. The Human Immunome Project
Dr. Keirstead discusses his involvement in the Human Immunome Project, an initiative comparable in scale to the Human Genome Project, aimed at fully understanding the immune system across different demographics and states of health. The project uses advanced technologies to collect trillions of data points on the immune response in individuals from various ethnicities, age groups, and socioeconomic backgrounds.
The goal is to develop a comprehensive understanding of the immune system’s diversity and how it changes throughout a person's life. This knowledge could pave the way for targeted therapies that are more effective and have fewer side effects, ultimately leading to a new era of personalized medicine. Dr. Keirstead highlights how understanding immune diversity is crucial for identifying better drug targets and improving overall health outcomes.
4. The Secretome: A New Frontier in Immunotherapy
One of the core topics discussed is the concept of the secretome. Dr. Keirstead explains that young immune cells secrete hundreds of factors that help maintain tissue health and repair. As we age, the secretion of these factors declines, leading to reduced regenerative capacity and increased vulnerability to disease. Immunis aims to harness these secretions to create therapies that can restore this lost functionality, without the complexities and risks associated with cell-based treatments.
Dr. Keirstead emphasizes that focusing on secreted factors, rather than cells themselves, presents a significant advantage. Secreted factors can be delivered without the risk of adverse effects such as tumor formation, which can occur with cellular therapies. Additionally, using secretome-based treatments allows for a more controlled therapeutic approach, as the active ingredients are better defined and easier to produce at scale.
5. Preclinical and Early Clinical Success
The podcast also delves into the preclinical and early clinical success of Immunis’ secretome-based therapy. Studies in animal models have shown promising results, including improved muscle function, reduced fat accumulation, and enhanced metabolic health. These findings are particularly significant given the known links between immune function, metabolism, and overall health.
Dr. Keirstead shares that the ongoing phase 1/2 clinical trials are focusing on muscle atrophy in older adults. The early results are encouraging, with patients showing muscle growth, improved mobility, and reduced inflammation. This represents a potentially groundbreaking advance in treating age-related muscle loss and other conditions linked to immune decline.
Conclusion:
This episode offers a fascinating look at how advances in immunotherapy could transform our approach to aging and age-related diseases. Dr. Keirstead’s work with Immunis and the Human Immunome Project is paving the way for new treatments that harness the power of the immune system to improve health outcomes for older adults. The key takeaway is that by understanding and targeting the immune system, it may be possible to not only treat but also prevent many of the challenges associated with aging. The developments discussed are still in the early stages, but they hold immense promise for the future of healthcare and longevity.