On Thursday, Telomir Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:TELO) announced the company's Telomir-1 captured and stabilized Silver(I) (Ag⁺) and the highly reactive Silver (II) (Ag²⁺) in a biologically compatible form.
Telomir-1 is a small-molecule metal ion chelator and regulator designed to lengthen the DNA's protective telomere caps, which are crucial in the aging process. It is in preclinical development.
What Happened: While Silver(I) compounds have demonstrated antibacterial activity, Silver(II) offers significantly enhanced healing potential due to its greater oxidative capacity, broader bactericidal activity, and potential role in tissue regeneration.
The milestone overcomes a major limitation in silver-based medical applications, such as advanced antimicrobial treatments, wound care solutions, and infection-resistant medical coatings.
The company says Telomir-1 has the potential to be the first known biologically compatible carrier capable of stabilizing Silver(II) for medical applications, overcoming a key limitation of instability and rapid degradation.
Why It Matters: Silver-based medical treatments represent a rapidly growing market, with the silver wound dressings segment valued at $1.03 billion in 2024 and projected to reach $1.36 billion by 2030.
Additionally, the antimicrobial coatings market -- which includes silver-infused medical devices, hospital surfaces, and implants -- is expected to grow from $11.65 billion in 2024 to $33.7 billion by 2031, at a CAGR of 14.2%.
In January, Telomir revealed results from its recent preclinical studies conducted in human cell lines. These studies demonstrated Telomir-1's ability to fully reverse copper-induced elevation of Reactive Oxygen Species and provide robust cellular protection against copper toxicity.
In December, Telomir Pharmaceuticals announced preclinical findings highlighting the copper-binding potential of its lead compound, Telomir-1, as a treatment for Wilson's disease, a rare genetic disorder that causes copper to build up in the body.
The compound exhibits a binding affinity for copper ions, enabling precise regulation of copper metabolism and interacting with essential ions such as copper, iron, and zinc, the company said.
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