12.01.07
Xenomis LLC, Pittsburgh, PA, has signed an exclusive licensing agreement with Harvard Medical School for proprietary science that will assist in the development of nutraceutical products with potentially far reaching physiological benefits. Under the terms of the agreement, Harvard will receive downstream royalties and equity. Recent studies have indicated that “longevity genes” may underlie the health benefits of calorie restriction, and that such genes likely evolved to help organisms survive during adverse conditions. Research supports the hypothesis that the activation of this genetically controlled stress response can prolong lifespan and improves energy utilization in animals. Plants stressed by infections or adverse environmental conditions produce specific molecules as part of their own survival response. Researchers have coined the term “Xenohormesis” to describe the hypothesis that molecules derived from stressed plants can have positive health benefits in mammals. Xenomis, using a proprietary extraction process, is able to extract and concentrate a range of xenohormetic molecules, including resveratrol from stressed plants like red wine grapes. The agreement with Xenomis allows Harvard Medical School to move fundamental laboratory research into clinical trials. Xenomis can also potentially advance this research into practical development and application much faster and more efficiently.