GlaxoSmithKline defends anti-ageing drugs

Resveratrol

Pharmaceutical giant GlaxoSmithKline has defended drugs, which it has financially backed, that claimed to combat age-related diseases.

The ‘anti-ageing' drugs are being developed by a Glaxo subsidiary called Sirtris Pharmaceutical in the US, and are thought to mimic the effects of the red wine component resveratrol as well as activate a key anti-ageing protein called SIRT1.

Resveratrol is a powerful polyphenol and anti-fungal chemical that is found in the skin of grapes and in red wine. It is thought it could help prevent heart disease and obesity.

Sirtis was reportedly working on various compounds that activate SIRT1 and was making such progress in its research, that Glaxo bought the company for US$720 million in 2008. However, since then there has been controversy over whether resveratrol directly activates SIRT1 as well as the anti-ageing effects of certain dietary restrictions.

The company's experiments reportedly show that resveratrol activates SIRT1 only when a fluorescent molecule used to gauge its activity was present.

Company controversy

This week, the controversy surrounding the medication increased as GlaxoSmithKline demanded the resignation of two of its senior executives from the board of the Healthy Lifespan Institute after it discovered that they were selling resveratrol as a dietary supplement.

The Healthy Lifespan Institute is a non-profit foundation based in Boston, Massachusetts.

In a statement, the firm said it was not aware the institute was selling a resveratrol supplement on the internet.

The spokeswoman said: "The company has instructed the GSK employees to cease their association with this activity and Michelle Dipp and Christoph Westphal will be resigning their positions on the board of Healthy Lifespan."

GlaxoSmithKline's pharmaceutical-grade version of resveratrol has not yet been given approval by the US Food and Drug Administration, but as a lower-dose dietary supplement it does not have to pass such stringent tests.

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