Scientists at Aura Bio have completed screening 300 peptides in a quest to identify compounds that could extend lifespan and improve resilience to cellular damage.
The research, recently discussed by co-founders Dr. Ben Schrank and Dr. Blair Lee, represents a significant step toward what they call the “Million Molecule Challenge.”
Their approach combines longevity research with practical applications, particularly focusing on how aging reduces our ability to recover from damage.
What makes this work especially promising is its potential to bring longevity therapeutics to patients much sooner than traditional aging interventions.
Jump to:
- Screening 300 Peptides at Multiple Doses
- 20% Lifespan Extension—But Context Matters
- Building Toward 10,000 Interventions
- From Lifespan to Stress Resilience
- UV Radiation Protection Takes Center Stage
- Multiple Applications Beyond Sunburn
- 40% Reduction in Radiation Dermatitis
- Collagen and Elastin Production Doubled
- An mTOR Inhibitor Rises to the Top
- Natural Product Shows Promise
- Post-Exposure Treatment, Not Prevention
- Early Human Testing Shows Effects
- Topical Formulation Nearing Reality
- Strategic Focus on Cancer Patients First
- Expanding to Chemotherapy Rash
- Building the Next-Generation Platform
- Pathway Analysis Reveals Complexity
- Beyond Skin Care: Sports Medicine Applications
- From 2,000 Interventions to Revolutionary Insights
- Sources
Screening 300 Peptides at Multiple Doses
The Aura team tested approximately 300 peptides at two different doses each, with multiple replicates to ensure data reliability. This comprehensive approach contrasts sharply with studies that publish single data points without proper context.
Dr. Schrank explained their selection strategy incorporated several categories of compounds. Some peptides were already FDA-approved or commonly used in biohacking communities. Others were selected using AI predictions to target specific biological pathways.
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We wanted to look and tackle multiple goals at once. So we selected our peptides from several different fields.
The researchers deliberately included peptides predicted to decrease lifespan as well, providing crucial data about the full spectrum of effects.
20% Lifespan Extension—But Context Matters
The most impressive result from the peptide screen was a 20% extension of lifespan in C. elegans worms. While statistically significant, Dr. Schrank noted this doesn’t match their best small molecules, which can extend lifespan by 50-60% in the same model.
This tells us a couple of interesting things. One, peptides are somewhat challenging to work with, right? They have issues with getting into cells easily and being bioavailable.
The bioavailability challenge represents both an obstacle and an opportunity. Future iterations could test chemically modified peptides designed for enhanced stability and cellular uptake.
Circularized peptides, for example, offer both improved stability and better cellular penetration compared to linear peptides.
Building Toward 10,000 Interventions
Aura’s database now approaches 10,000 tested interventions—a milestone representing roughly 1% of their ultimate goal. Even at this scale, patterns are emerging that reveal gaps in current understanding.
Dr. Schrank pointed out that most biological pathways center around 0% median lifespan extension, yet individual compounds targeting those same pathways can produce 30-50% extensions.
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What it tells us is that the knowledge that we have as a field about which pathways govern longevity is still so incomplete.
This finding challenges simplistic assumptions about aging pathways. The mTOR pathway, for instance, can be targeted at multiple points with dramatically different outcomes.
From Lifespan to Stress Resilience
Aura has shifted focus toward a more immediate application of longevity compounds: improving recovery from cellular damage and stress.
The logic is straightforward. As organisms age, they lose the capacity to repair damage efficiently. A 35-year-old takes longer to recover from injury than a 25-year-old.
Dr. Schrank described this as a practical pathway to clinical applications, where recovery periods can be measured in weeks or months rather than requiring decades-long studies of aging itself.
UV Radiation Protection Takes Center Stage
Dr. Blair Lee explained why UV radiation became their first stress resilience target. Everyone experiences UV exposure daily, and its damaging effects on skin are well documented.
UV damages skin and it’s like a major cause for skin aging and skin aging although it’s looks like it’s like a very aesthetic thing but it actually has a very clinical indication.
Beyond cosmetic concerns, UV overexposure significantly increases skin cancer risk, making this both a health and aesthetic issue.
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The team validated their top candidates in human skin cells, testing wound healing, vascular regeneration, cell survival, and DNA damage repair—all following UV exposure.
Multiple Applications Beyond Sunburn
The research was initially funded by the U.S. Space Force to explore radio-protective compounds for high-altitude pilots and astronauts.
Dr. Schrank noted that current technology could theoretically get humans to Mars from an engineering standpoint, but radiation exposure during the journey remains a critical barrier.
The pipeline now addresses three timeframes:
- Near-term: Preventing photoaging from UV damage
- Mid-term: Helping cancer patients recover from radiation therapy
- Long-term: Enabling safe space travel
40% Reduction in Radiation Dermatitis
Aura recently concluded its first mouse trial examining radiation-induced dermatitis. Approximately 95% of cancer patients receiving radiation therapy develop this painful skin condition, sometimes so severe they cannot complete their treatment.
The company’s lead longevity-extending compound reduced dermatitis burden by 40% in mice—a potentially significant improvement for cancer care.
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We found that our best longevity extending compound reduce radiation burn dermatitis burden by 40%.
Current treatment options are limited to topical corticosteroids or aloe vera lotions, representing a clear unmet medical need.
Collagen and Elastin Production Doubled
In cell culture experiments, Dr. Lee’s team observed dramatic increases in collagen and elastin production following UV damage when their lead molecules were applied.
UV radiation ages skin partially by breaking down these structural proteins. The two-fold increase in their production suggests genuine regenerative capacity.
Testing occurred in primary human skin cells and vascular cells, providing confidence that effects would translate to actual human tissue.
An mTOR Inhibitor Rises to the Top
Among Aura’s most promising candidates is a novel mTOR pathway inhibitor—not rapamycin, but a related compound with distinct properties.
This finding aligns with established biology. Rapamycin itself has shown promise in reducing senescent signaling in skin when applied topically, along with beneficial effects on DNA damage.
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The mTOR pathway has long been implicated in aging and cellular stress response, making it a logical target for both lifespan extension and damage repair.
The fact that an mTOR inhibitor emerged from unbiased screening validates both the approach and the underlying biology.
Natural Product Shows Promise
Aura’s second lead candidate comes from traditional Chinese medicine—a natural product derivative that performed strongly across their entire validation pipeline.
Dr. Schrank emphasized that natural products shouldn’t be dismissed as unscientific. Many are simply small molecules people have consumed for centuries, often with favorable safety profiles.
If something is a natural product that’s just a small molecule that people have been taking over the counter quote unquote for thousands of years potentially.
The challenge often lies in identifying which specific component is bioactive and ensuring adequate dosing—problems their screening platform can solve.
Post-Exposure Treatment, Not Prevention
Critically, Aura designed their assays to test compounds after cells and animals received radiation exposure.
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This distinguishes their approach from sunscreens, which create a physical barrier, or antioxidants, which buffer damage as it occurs.
Dr. Schrank explained this was deliberate—they wanted to prove their compounds promote active repair, not merely prevention.
We are really mechanistically focused on repair from damage not buffering against damage.
While pre-treatment would likely enhance outcomes further, demonstrating post-exposure efficacy sets a higher bar and addresses scenarios where prevention isn’t possible.
Early Human Testing Shows Effects
Working in the cosmetic space allowed Aura to conduct early human testing without navigating full clinical trial requirements.
Dr. Schrank reported seeing efficacy with their natural product compound in human skin following sunburn, though he couldn’t share detailed results yet.
This represents a significant acceleration. Traditional drug development requires 5-10 years before researchers know whether their molecule helps patients.
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By leveraging cosmetic applications, Aura leapfrogged 3-4 years of development to obtain early human validation signals.
Topical Formulation Nearing Reality
The team is currently formulating their first test batch to send to friends and family for feedback on texture and skin improvements after one month of application.
As a natural product with generally recognized as safe (GRAS) status, the compound doesn’t require extensive clinical testing before consumer availability.
Dr. Lee highlighted that beyond UV protection, the molecules increase collagen and elastin production, suggesting benefits for fine lines and wrinkles regardless of sun exposure.
Our molecule could increase collagen and elastin productions. It really helps with the fine lines and wrinkles.
Strategic Focus on Cancer Patients First
For their mTOR inhibitor, Aura plans to pursue topical application in radiation-induced dermatitis patients first.
Topical delivery constrains systemic complexity while demonstrating clear clinical benefit in a population with significant unmet need.
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- Solid cast iron build that feels stable and lasts for years
- Comfortable grip that makes high-rep workouts easier to handle
Dr. Schrank outlined a clever long-term strategy. Skin regions receiving high-energy radiation become more susceptible to subsequent skin cancer development due to accumulated DNA damage.
By treating acute dermatitis and following patients long-term, Aura can potentially demonstrate both immediate symptomatic relief and reduced cancer incidence—showing how a longevity therapeutic provides sustained benefits beyond acute treatment.
Expanding to Chemotherapy Rash
Chemotherapy creates systemic inflammation that often manifests as visible skin rash. Dr. Lee explained this represents another potential application for their topical formulations.
In experiments, these molecules lowered inflammatory markers including IL-8 and TNF-alpha, suggesting they could address both the visible rash and underlying systemic inflammation.
Many modern chemotherapy agents, particularly PARP inhibitors for BRCA-mutated cancers, cause severe phototoxicity effects in skin—an area where Aura’s compounds could provide meaningful patient benefit.
Building the Next-Generation Platform
To accelerate validation, Aura is developing “Stratos”—a robotic platform integrating 3D skin tissue models rather than traditional 2D cell cultures.
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This will enable rapid testing of lifespan-extending compounds in multi-cellular skin environments, dramatically increasing throughput while improving biological relevance.
The team also recently received a National Institutes of Health award to build the “RADbot,” which will incorporate different forms of radiation directly onto their Wormbot screening platform.
This will allow testing of various radiation dosages, intensities, and exposure periods, helping untangle the internal biological pathways governing radiation resilience.
Pathway Analysis Reveals Complexity
Analysis of Aura’s growing database reveals that most biological pathways show a median 0% effect on lifespan extension.
Yet individual compounds targeting those same pathways can produce extensions ranging from -50% to +50%.
This suggests the longevity network contains specific nodes particularly amenable to intervention, where outcomes depend critically on precisely how you modulate the pathway, not merely whether you affect it at all.
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- Full-body training with one weight using swings, squats, and presses
- Solid cast iron build that feels stable and lasts for years
- Comfortable grip that makes high-rep workouts easier to handle
Dr. Schrank believes this exposes fundamental limitations in current AI approaches to drug discovery. Training data is too limited in both depth and scope to make reliable predictions about novel longevity compounds.
It’s made me so aware of how flawed so much of the training data is out there that people are staking their claims around an AI discovered molecule on.
Beyond Skin Care: Sports Medicine Applications
Molecules that improve repair and restorative functions have obvious applications beyond dermatology and oncology.
Dr. Schrank mentioned discussions with an NBA player about potential sports medicine uses—accelerating recovery from training stress or injury.
The challenge for any startup is avoiding “death by opportunity.” Too many directions can fragment limited resources.
Aura is actively seeking partnerships to explore these adjacent applications while maintaining focus on their core clinical development pathway.
From 2,000 Interventions to Revolutionary Insights
Perhaps most encouraging is that these discoveries emerged from testing roughly 2,000 interventions—just 0.2% of Aura’s ultimate million-molecule goal.
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- Full-body training with one weight using swings, squats, and presses
- Solid cast iron build that feels stable and lasts for years
- Comfortable grip that makes high-rep workouts easier to handle
If this small fraction yielded multiple clinical candidates with diverse applications, the potential of a truly comprehensive screen becomes staggering.
The work demonstrates that systematic, high-throughput approaches to longevity science can identify not only lifespan-extending compounds but therapeutics with near-term clinical utility.
By bridging fundamental aging research with practical medical applications, Aura’s approach may finally deliver on longevity medicine’s promise to improve healthspan and quality of life within years rather than decades.
Sources
No independently verifiable published sources were referenced in the research brief for this transcript.
