Revel Pharmaceuticals' Enzyme Targets Aging Damage in Lab Tests

Revel Pharmaceuticals developed an enzyme that reverses key aging markers in lab samples, but human trials remain pending.

Revel Pharmaceuticals in San Francisco created CMLase, an engineered enzyme targeting advanced glycation end products (AGEs) in aging tissues. In vitro tests showed it reduced CML levels in human aortic tissue from a 75-year-old donor to levels comparable with 30-year-old tissue—achieving a 70% reduction. The enzyme also lowered CML in skin and eye lens proteins from a 64-year-old donor. Developed through AI screening of 50,000 microbial DNA sequences and optimized via directed evolution, CMLase targets CML embedded in structural proteins like collagen. Published in August 2026, this work challenges assumptions that certain aging damage is irreversible but does not claim lifespan extension or tissue rejuvenation. The researchers note it has not been tested in living humans, and safety concerns like immune reactions remain. This approach could inform future treatments for age-related conditions like type 2 diabetes, but effectiveness in actual human tissues requires further validation beyond donated samples. The next step is clinical testing to confirm real-world impact.

Source: Singularity Hub