Sirtris Pharmaceuticals
Encyclopedia
Sirtris Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is a biotechnology company based in Cambridge, MA that is developing therapies for type 2 diabetes, cancer, and other diseases. Founded in 2004 by a Harvard University biologist, Drs. David Sinclair
, and venture capitalist Christoph Westphal
, the company went public in 2007 and was subsequently purchased by GlaxoSmithKline
in 2008 for $720 million. Sirtris's drug discovery is focused on developing activators of sirtuins, a class of enzyme that may mediate benefits of calorie restriction
. The company's lead drug candidate, SRT-501, is a proprietary formulation of the compound resveratrol
, possibly an activator of the SIRT1 enzyme. The company is also developing more potent synthetic activators of SIRT1 and is investigating SIRT3
as another potential drug target. Recent studies from rivals Amgen and Pfizer have failed to reproduce the findings that resveratrol is an SIRT1 activator.
David Sinclair (biologist)
David A. Sinclair PhD is a biologist best known for his research on the biology of lifespan extension and driving research towards treating diseases of ageing.-Current position:...
, and venture capitalist Christoph Westphal
Christoph Westphal
Christoph Westphal, M.D., Ph.D., co-founded Sirtris Pharmaceuticals in 2004 with David Sinclair and served as Chief Executive Officer until April 2010. Dr...
, the company went public in 2007 and was subsequently purchased by GlaxoSmithKline
GlaxoSmithKline
GlaxoSmithKline plc is a global pharmaceutical, biologics, vaccines and consumer healthcare company headquartered in London, United Kingdom...
in 2008 for $720 million. Sirtris's drug discovery is focused on developing activators of sirtuins, a class of enzyme that may mediate benefits of calorie restriction
Calorie restriction
Caloric restriction , or calorie restriction, is a dietary regimen that restricts calorie intake, where the baseline for the restriction varies, usually being the previous, unrestricted, intake of the subjects...
. The company's lead drug candidate, SRT-501, is a proprietary formulation of the compound resveratrol
Resveratrol
Resveratrol is a stilbenoid, a type of natural phenol, and a phytoalexin produced naturally by several plants when under attack by pathogens such as bacteria or fungi....
, possibly an activator of the SIRT1 enzyme. The company is also developing more potent synthetic activators of SIRT1 and is investigating SIRT3
SIRT3
NAD-dependent deacetylase sirtuin-3, mitochondrial also known as SIRT3 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the SIRT3 gene [sirtuin 3 ]. SIRT3 is member of the mammalian sirtuin family of proteins, which are homologs to the yeast Sir2 protein...
as another potential drug target. Recent studies from rivals Amgen and Pfizer have failed to reproduce the findings that resveratrol is an SIRT1 activator.