Se-Jin Lee, the molecular biologist at Johns Hopkins University who discovered myostatin in mice in 1992, says it’s “disappointing” that MYO-029 is dead, but he still believes blocking myostatin holds promise. But what really disappoints Lee is that discussion of a promising treatment for a devastating disease becomes entangled in discussions of doping. The benefits go far beyond the Duchenne muscular dystrophy, a disease that is diagnosed in only 600 American boys a year, to diseases like cancer and AIDS. Such drugs could even have a big effect on the muscle weakening that comes with aging.
“Everybody gets old; everybody is going to lose muscle mass,” Lee says. “If you look at the benefit of buying people five more years of independent living, it seems a little out of whack to be worrying about sports records.”
Acceleron and some other companies are working on several different drugs that hit myostatin. And Affymax (AFFY), a Palo Alto biotech firm, is working on what may be a cheaper, easier to use version of EPO. These are baby steps, but also reminders that someday, performance-enhancing drugs will be able to really push the limits of what the human body can do–like it or not.
Other drugs and enhancements
PPAR delta drugs Status: Experimental.
Legitimate use: Would fight obesity, heart disease.
Athletic advantage: Mice with the PPAR delta receptor modified can run twice as long as their unmodified brothers and sisters.
Side effects: Unknown, but PPAR drugs to treat diabetes have had unpredictable side effects
Gene therapy
Status: Experimental.
Legitimate use: Treating genetically inherited diseases.
Athletic advantage: Extra EPO, myostatin or other hormones created by DNA implanted within the body. Would be undetected by drug tests.
Side effects: Unknown. Gene therapy treatments use viruses or other biotechnology to alter DNA; in most attempts, risks have outweighed the benefits.
Robotic Limbs and prosthetics
Status: Early versions in development now.
Legitimate use: Allowing amputees to walk and run.
Athletic advantage: Prosthetics are now good enough that amputee athlete Oscar Pistorius will run in Beijing games.
Side effects: For amputees, an easy decision. But it will be a long time before able-bodied athletes are replacing perfectly good limbs
Exoskeletons
Status: In development.
Legitimate use: Allowing workers to carry very heavy loads or walk great distances.
Side effects: None, so far.
Brian Wang is a Futurist Thought Leader and a popular Science blogger with 1 million readers per month. His blog Nextbigfuture.com is ranked #1 Science News Blog. It covers many disruptive technology and trends including Space, Robotics, Artificial Intelligence, Medicine, Anti-aging Biotechnology, and Nanotechnology.
Known for identifying cutting edge technologies, he is currently a Co-Founder of a startup and fundraiser for high potential early-stage companies. He is the Head of Research for Allocations for deep technology investments and an Angel Investor at Space Angels.
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