Telomir Pharmaceuticals announces preclinical findings on Telomir-1

Telomir Pharmaceuticals (TELO) announced preclinical results from a study evaluating its novel oral therapeutic, Telomir-1, in a genetically modified zebrafish model of age-related macular degeneration. Following a 14-day oral dosing regimen, Telomir-1 reversed central vision response and vision acuity, restored retinal degeneration and architecture, and significantly reduced oxidative stress-achieving improvements across several FDA-recognized surrogate endpoints relevant to AMD. The study utilized the Sen57wrn-/-ND6-/+ zebrafish model, which combines genetic mutations associated with premature aging, mitochondrial dysfunction, and chronic senescence. These animals exhibit progressive retinal degeneration, visual impairment, and oxidative stress-closely modeling dry AMD and geographic atrophy in humans. Before treatment, the aged zebrafish demonstrated clear signs of neurodegeneration and visual impairment. Mutant animals showed sluggish, uncoordinated swimming behavior and delayed responses to visual stimuli such as light and movement-evidence of significant vision loss. Microscopic analysis of their retinas revealed approximately 15% total retinal degeneration, affecting several critical layers: The inner nuclear layer was thinned. This layer acts as the retina’s central processing zone, where signals from light-sensitive photoreceptors are refined before being passed deeper into the eye. The ganglion cell layer was degraded. This layer contains neurons that form the optic nerve, which sends visual information to the brain. Damage here disrupts vision at its source. The inner plexiform layer volume was reduced. IPL is a retinal layer located between the inner nuclear layer and the ganglion cell layer. It may contribute to disease processes through inner retinal changes, inflammation, or vitreoretinal interactions. The outer plexiform layer showed early deterioration. This layer connects photoreceptors to other retinal cells and is essential for detecting changes in light and contrast.In addition to retinal damage, the diseased animals exhibited reactive oxygen species levels nearly four times higher than healthy controls-indicating intense oxidative stress-and suffered a 15% mortality rate during the two-week study window. After receiving Telomir-1, treated animals demonstrated marked recovery: The zebrafish resumed active, coordinated swimming and responded significantly better to light and movement, reflecting restored vision. Retinal architecture was structurally restored, including: Full recovery of INL thickness, restoring core signal processing in the retina. Improved GCL integrity, reactivating the transmission of visual information to the brain. Significant augmentation of IPL size, indicating improved processing of visual signals Improvement of OPL structure, maintaining input from photoreceptors. ROS levels were reduced by up to 50%, and no mortality occurred in any Telomir-1 treatment group. Histological cross-sections confirmed Telomir-1’s ability to regenerate not only the inner retinal layers, but also additional retinal structures-supporting improved-laminar retinal restoration and function. Collectively, these results demonstrate Telomir-1’s ability to restore visual function, reverse retinal degeneration, reduce oxidative stress, and improve survival-all from a short oral treatment regimen.