Nutraceutical Telomerase Inducers (Nutraceutical to Slow Aging)

Nutraceuticals do not require as rigorous FDA approval criteria as Pharmaceuticals under the FDA ruling of “Generally Recognized As Safe” (GRAS) (see https://www.fda.gov/food/cfsan-constituent-updates/fda-issues-final-rule-food-ingredients-may-be-generally-recognized-safe).

Sierra Sciences already has exclusive and non-exclusive license agreements with Go-To-Market partners to market various Nutraceutical Telomerase Inducers in many territories. And, Sierra Sciences has identified many other Nutraceutical Telomerase Inducers that are still available to license by new Go-To-Market partners. Many territories are still available. Telomerase inducing nutraceuticals can be marketed immediately as supplements, pet products, skin care products, wound healing, eyecare, dental care, hair care, ex vivo therapies, stem cell enhancement, etc.

Sierra Sciences can test plant extracts, up to 4,000 per week. Sierra Sciences has already tested 12,000 plant extracts in our proprietary high throughput robotic hTERT expression screening assay and have discovered 45 (~1 in 250) plant extracts that induce telomerase expression. These plant extracts are referred to as “Hits”. There are about 3 million more plant extracts available to test. And, with further screening we fully expect to find stronger and stronger hits. These extracts are commercially available for about $100 each.

The global nutraceutical market should reach $336.1 billion by 2023 from $230.9 billion in 2018 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.8%, from 2018 to 2023. (https://www.bccresearch.com/market-research/food-and-beverage/nutraceuticals-global-markets.html#:~:text=The%20global%20nutraceutical%20market%20should%20reach%20%24285.0%20billion%20by%202021,%25%2C%20from%202016%20to%202021).

Sierra Sciences can also fractionate plant extracts to identify the chemical(s) in the extracts that is inducing the telomerase gene. The purified active chemical should be far more active than the extract that contained it. That is, in fact, how TA-65 was discovered with the help of Dr. Andrews while still at Geron Corporation.

Fractionation of plant extracts involves a variety of chromatography procedures using High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC). The type of chromatography varies from plant extract to plant extract and can’t be determined in advance until the plant extract is identified and tested.

No research required for nutraceuticals that have already been discovered. Such nutraceuticals are ready to go.

Screening research is required to discover new nutraceuticals.

Estimated Time: 6 months, with the option to continue longer.

Employees:

1 Natural Product Specialist (Scientist) to obtain libraries for screening

1 High Throughput Screener (Scientist) that is skilled at Cell Based assays.

1 QA/QC Scientist.

Lab Space: 600 sf ($130/sf)

Office Space: 150 sf ($130/sf)

Screening Only

Additional funding might be needed along the way to cover screening costs depending on how many samples get screened.

The potency of nutraceuticals can be increased by purifying the active component from the plant extract if an Entrepreneur or Investor chooses to do so. This would require additional basic research.

Estimated Time: 6 months, with the option to continue longer.

Employees:

1 Purification Specialist (Scientist).

1 High Throughput Screener (Scientist) that is skilled at Cell Based assays.

1 QA/QC Scientist.

Lab Space: 600 sf ($130/sf)

Office Space: 150 sf ($130/sf)

Screening and Purification

Additional funding might be needed along the way to cover screening costs depending on how many samples get screened.