Aging biology · Genomics · Nature Genetics
Calorie restriction reduces somatic mutation burden in mice
Published Oct 8, 2026. Duplex DNA sequencing of liver, kidney, hepatocytes and cerebellar neurons from 19-month-old male mice showed 30% calorie restriction lowered both substitution and indel burdens, most in intergenic, transcriptionally inactive and inaccessible-chromatin regions. Two CR feeding schedules differed in lifespan effect but reduced mutation burden similarly — suggesting mutation burden is not the sole or rate-limiting determinant of lifespan.
Caveat: Mouse study (male only); research highlight of a primary paper; no direct human clinical implication yet.
Nature Genetics →
In vivo gene editing · Lipids · First-in-human
Editas cleared to start first-in-human trial of EDIT-401, an LDLR-upregulating gene edit, in HeFH
Oct 8, 2026. Editas received Australian HREC approval and completed the TGA Clinical Trial Notification for the Phase 1/2 Strive trial of single-dose EDIT-401 in heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (New Zealand review pending; five sites). EDIT-401 edits the LDLR gene to increase LDL receptor expression; the company reports ~90% or greater mean reductions in LDL-C, Lp(a) and ApoB in preclinical studies. Initial safety/tolerability data expected Q1 2027; durability data at AHA Scientific Sessions (Nov 6–9, 2026).
Caveat: Trial approval only — no human data yet; efficacy figures are company-reported preclinical results.
GlobeNewswire →
AI · Drug discovery · Protein design
GSK expands work with Chai Discovery after AI-designed binders hit every tested target
Oct 9, 2026. Chai says its models generated designs to GSK targets zero-shot (no target-specific training), and GSK’s internal wet-lab testing found binders to all tested targets, leading to a broader collaboration giving GSK access to Chai’s protein folding and design models, including Chai-3.
Caveat: Company-announced evaluation results; preclinical discovery only — no clinical validation of Chai-designed molecules yet.
BioSpace / Business Wire →
Gene therapy · Prime editing · Primary immunodeficiency
Prime editing partially corrects GATA2 deficiency in patients’ own blood stem cells
Oct 9, 2026. Aarhus University researchers used prime editing on stem cells from a patient with GATA2 deficiency (one normal and one disease-causing copy), raising normally functioning gene copies from about 50% to 70% and improving function of the affected protein. Prime editing inserts corrected DNA without a full double-strand cut.
Caveat: Preclinical, ex vivo work; not yet ready for patients — must scale to the stem-cell numbers needed for autologous transplant; donor HSCT remains the current option for some patients.
Aarhus University →
