A 20-cent 'wonder drug' is being studied as a colon-cancer-fighting supplement, and it looks promising
A cheap, widely prescribed diabetes drug that some doctors have called a "wonder drug" may hold promise as a colon-cancer -fighting supplement.
Scientists who presented at the American Association for Cancer Research conference in Chicago last week are studying how metformin — the most popular diabetes medication worldwide — interacts with tough-to-treat colon cancer cells. Their research is still early and ongoing.
"Metformin seems like it could have a really interesting supplemental approach to therapy," Holli Loomans-Kropp, a gastrointestinal cancer prevention researcher at The Ohio State University, who is leading the ongoing study, told Business Insider. "We're opening up some doors to what this could do."
Previous research found that people taking metformin for diabetes have lower colon cancer rates, suggesting the drug may be doing something protective to help prevent cancer from developing. This new study is one of the first to look at whether metformin could actually fight colon cancer cells once the disease develops.
Based on what Loomans-Kropp and her team have seen so far in cell-culture dishes, metformin could become a helpful "supplement" to certain cancer treatment regimens in the future. It wouldn't be potent enough to treat cancer on its own, but could be used alongside other treatments.
Loomans-Kropp is especially excited about the drug's potential in treating a common type of colon cancer caused by a mutated KRAS gene, which tends to be very tough to treat. Her research is still in the early stages; further animal testing is required before human clinical trials can begin.
A drug that changes how the body uses energy
One of the big benefits Loomans-Kropp sees to studying metformin for colon cancer treatment is a practical one — it's a drug that's already widely accessible and affordable.
"I always like to ask the question: Are there medications or agents that we already know, that are already used, that we have safety/toxicity profiles for, that we can then repurpose for something else?"
Metformin has been studied and used by millions of patients worldwide. And as an off-patent, generic drug, it's cheap — it costs 10 to 20 cents per pill.
It's sometimes referred to as a " wonder drug" by doctors for its beneficial effects outside blood-sugar control. Scientists have studied it for heart health, cancer prevention, and dementia.
Metformin works for diabetes because it changes the way the body processes and produces sugar. Some scientists believe it may hold promise as an antiaging drug. Like exercise or fasting, metformin regulates how the body uses energy and encourages autophagy, a process that allows the body to process old and damaged cells. Loomans-Kropp hopes that metformin could also inhibit colon cancer cells from using energy to grow and develop.
"If metformin maybe can be used to redirect or change how the cell uses energy, which then ultimately changes how it divides and how it proliferates, this could be a mechanism to exploit," Loomans-Kropp said.
The same energy-shifting mechanism has longevity researchers excited about metformin as a tool for disease prevention.
Dr. Nir Barzilai, a leading longevity researcher who suspects metformin may be beneficial for healthy aging, said metformin may be a "suitable" option for cancer prevention. When it comes to fighting cancer, he agrees with Loomans-Kropp that more study is needed.
"Let the science lead," he told Business Insider in an email.
Loomans-Kropp is hoping that if these initial cancer cell results are successful, she can begin testing metformin as colon cancer treatment on animals within a year.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
VSTM Stock Soars 22% in a Month on Ovarian Cancer Combo Drug Approval
Verastem Oncology VSTM shares rallied 22.2% in a month, primarily driven by the FDA approval of the company's novel combination regimen of avutometinib plus defactinib in early May for treating KRAS mutant recurrent low-grade serous ovarian cancer (LGSOC), a rare and distinct type of ovarian cancer. The FDA's decision came well in advance of the originally expected date of June 30, 2025. The approval was granted under the FDA's accelerated approval pathway and is commercialized in the U.S. market as an oral combination co-pack with the two prescription products, known as 'Avmapki Fakzynja Co-Pack.' Following the FDA approval, Avmapki Fakzynja Co-Pack is the first and only FDA-approved treatment for the LGSOC indication. Per Verastem Oncology, the combo offers a much-needed treatment option for patients and sets a new standard of care for women with recurrent LGSOC with a KRAS mutation. Full approval of the product for this use depends on the detailed evidence of clinical benefit in the follow-up phase III RAMP 301 confirmatory study, which will evaluate the combination in women with and without a KRAS mutation. Year to date, Verastem Oncology stock has surged 64.8% against the industry's 5.8% decline. Image Source: Zacks Investment Research Please note that the FDA's decision was based on the results from VSTM's phase II RAMP 201 study, which evaluated the combination of Avmapki and Fakzynja in adult patients with measurable KRAS-mutated recurrent LGSOC. Per the data readout, a 44% overall response rate was observed in patients treated with the combo therapy, with an acceptable safety profile. Additionally, the median duration of response ranged from 3.3 to 31.1 months in the KRAS mutant population. The Avmapki/Fakzynja combo enjoys the FDA's Breakthrough Therapy designation for the treatment of patients with recurrent LGSOC after one or more prior lines of therapy, including platinum-based chemotherapy, in the United States. Avutometinib alone or in combination with defactinib also enjoys the FDA's Orphan Drug designation for the same indication. Verastem Oncology is also looking to expand the label of its approved avutometinib/defactinib combo therapy beyond LGSOC. Last week, VSTM reported positive updated safety and efficacy results from the phase I/II RAMP 205 study evaluating avutometinib plus defactinib in combination with chemotherapy (gemcitabine and Nab-paclitaxel) for the first-line treatment of metastatic pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) patients. This has also likely contributed to the stock price rally in the past month. The RAMP 205 study is evaluating 60 patients in five cohorts (12 per cohort) who are receiving one of five dose regimens of avutometinib/defactinib combo with chemotherapy for frontline metastatic PDAC. As of April 25, 2025, patients in the dose level 1 cohort achieved an overall response rate of 83% (eight confirmed and two unconfirmed who remain on treatment). Based on this encouraging outcome, Verastem Oncology selected dose level 1 as the recommended phase II dose. Additionally, it was found that the dose level 1 showed the best response, and overall, 92% of patients across all dose levels achieved tumor shrinkage. The safety profile of the avutometinib/defactinib combo was acceptable across all the treatment cohorts and no new safety signals were identified. Verastem Oncology is currently gearing up to initiate a registrational phase III front-line metastatic PDAC study in 2026. Apart from these indications, the company is simultaneously evaluating avutometinib and defactinib in combination with a KRAS G12C inhibitor, sotorasib, for treating non-small cell lung cancer in a separate mid-stage study. Verastem, Inc. price-consensus-chart | Verastem, Inc. Quote Verastem Oncology currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). Some better-ranked stocks in the biotech sector are Bayer BAYRY, Lexicon Pharmaceuticals LXRX and Amarin AMRN, each carrying a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) at present. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here. In the past 60 days, estimates for Bayer's earnings per share have increased from $1.19 to $1.25 for 2025. During the same time, earnings per share have increased from $1.28 to $1.31 for 2026. Year to date, shares of Bayer have gained 45.3%. BAYRY's earnings beat estimates in one of the trailing four quarters, matched twice and missed on the remaining occasion, the average negative surprise being 13.91%. In the past 60 days, estimates for Lexicon's loss per share have narrowed from 37 cents to 32 cents for 2025. During the same time, loss per share estimates for 2026 have narrowed from 35 cents to 31 cents. Year to date, shares of LXRX have lost 6.6%. LXRX's earnings beat estimates in three of the trailing four quarters and missed the same on the remaining occasion, delivering an average surprise of 11.97%. In the past 60 days, estimates for Amarin's loss per share have narrowed from $5.33 to $3.48 for 2025. During the same time, loss per share estimates for 2026 have narrowed from $4.13 to $2.67. Year to date, shares of AMRN have gained 17.1%. AMRN's earnings beat estimates in two of the trailing four quarters, matched once and missed the same on the remaining occasion, delivering an average surprise of 29.11%. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Bayer Aktiengesellschaft (BAYRY) : Free Stock Analysis Report Lexicon Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (LXRX) : Free Stock Analysis Report Amarin Corporation PLC (AMRN) : Free Stock Analysis Report Verastem, Inc. (VSTM) : Free Stock Analysis Report This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research ( Zacks Investment Research Sign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
Common Diabetes Drug Linked to 'Exceptional Longevity' in Women
Not only can the drug metformin help to effectively manage type 2 diabetes, it may also give older women a better chance of living to the grand old age of 90, according to new research – thanks, it seems, to a variety of anti-aging effects. The research used data from a long-term US study of postmenopausal women. Records on a total of 438 women were picked out – half who took metformin for their diabetes, and half who took a different diabetes drug, called sulfonylurea. While there are a lot of caveats and asterisks to the study, those in the metformin group were calculated to have a 30 percent lower risk of dying before the age of 90 than those in the sulfonylurea group. "Metformin has been shown to target multiple pathways of aging and therefore has been postulated as a drug that may extend human longevity," write the researchers in their published paper. "We found that metformin initiation increased exceptional longevity compared with sulfonylurea initiation among women with type 2 diabetes." We already know quite a lot about metformin. It's been around for decades, and is considered a gerotherapeutic: a drug able to slow down various aging processes in the body. For example, it's been shown to limit DNA damage and promote gene activity associated with long life. Previous studies have shown metformin can put the brakes on wear and tear in the brain, and even reduce the risk of long COVID. However, scientists aren't yet sure that the drug extends lifespan, especially in humans – which is part of the reason for this study. This research can't prove cause and effect like a randomized control trial (RCT) might be able to, because the participants weren't randomly assigned to one treatment or the other – rather, they were following professional advice. What's more, there was no placebo group given no treatment at all. The overall sample size wasn't particularly large, either. However, the study also has its strengths – not least the average 14 to 15 years of follow-up, which goes way beyond the length a standard RCT would be able to. That's important when you're trying to see how lifespan is affected. "A key advantage of our analysis was the long follow-up period after treatment initiation enabled by examination of a cohort with extensive follow-up from midlife to ages 90 and older, which is not feasible in typical randomized controlled trials," write the researchers. RCTs could be something that follows further down the line to dig deeper into these results, the researchers suggest. In the meantime, with the global population continuing to skew older and older, studies continue to find ways of keeping us healthier for longer, and reducing damage to the body as we age. "The geroscience hypothesis posits that biological aging is malleable and that slowing biological aging may delay or prevent the onset of multiple age-related diseases and disability," write the researchers. "A key goal of geroscience is to identify novel therapeutic and preventive interventions that slow biological aging." The research has been published in the Journal of Gerontology: Medical Sciences. Increased Toxicity Risk Identified For Children With ADHD, Autism Coffee Could Be The Secret to Healthy Aging For Women, Scientists Discover Texas Woman Dies From Brain-Eating Amoeba After Flushing Sinuses
Business Insider
2 days ago
- Business Insider
Forget 'biological age' tests — longevity experts are using an $800 under-the-radar blood test to measure aging in real-time
Doctors and scientists are using a blood plasma test to study longevity. The test measures proteins and can tell you about your organ health. This field of proteomics could one day help detect diseases like cancer before they start. Should you have that second cup of coffee? How about a little wine with dinner? And, is yogurt really your superfood? Scientists are getting closer to offering consumers a blood test that could help people make daily decisions about how to eat, drink, and sleep that are more perfectly tailored to their unique biology. The forthcoming tests could also help shape what are arguably far more important health decisions, assessing whether your brain is aging too fast, if your kidneys are OK, or if that supplement or drug you're taking is actually doing any good. It's called an organ age test, more officially (and scientifically) known as "proteomics" — and it's the next hot " biological age" marker that researchers are arguing could be better than all the rest. "If I could just get one clock right now, I'd want to get that clock, and I'd like to see it clinically available in older adults," cardiologist Eric Topol, author of the recent bestseller "Super Agers: An Evidence-Based Approach to Longevity," told Business Insider. Topol said armed with organ age test results, people could become more proactive stewards of their own health, before it's too late. "When we have all these layers of data, it's a whole new day for preventing the disease," Topol said. "You see the relationship with women's hormones. You see the relationship with food and alcohol. You don't ever get that with genes." A test like this isn't available to consumers just yet, but it's already being used by researchers at elite universities and high-end longevity clinics. They hope it can become a tool any doctor could use to assess patient health in the next few years. A startup called Vero, which was spun out of some foundational proteomics research at Stanford University, is hoping to beta test a proteomics product for consumers this year. "Knowing your oldest organ isn't the point; changing the trajectory is," Vero co-founder and CEO Paul Coletta told a crowd gathered at the Near Future Summit in Malibu, California, last month. Coletta told Business Insider Vero's not interested in doing "wealthcare." The company plans to make its test available to consumers for around $200 a pop, at scale. Their draw only requires one vial of blood. Why measuring proteins could be the key to better personalized medicine The big promise of proteomics is that it could be a more precise real-time tool for tracking important but subtle changes that emerge inside each of us as we age. Genetic testing can measure how our bodies are built, spotting vulnerabilities in a person's DNA that might predispose them to health issues. Standard clinical measurements like a person's weight, blood pressure, or cholesterol readings are a useful proxy for potential health issues. Then there are the increasingly popular "biological age" tests available to consumers at home. Most of those look at "epigenetic changes" — how environmental factors affect our gene expression. Proteomics does something different and new. It measures the product that our bodies make based on all those genetic and environmental inputs: proteins. It offers a live assessment of how your body is running, not just how it's programmed. If validated in the next few years, these tests could become key in early disease detection and prevention. They could help influence all kinds of medical decisions, from big ones like "What drugs should I take?" to little ones like "How does my body respond to caffeine or alcohol?" Elite longevity clinics already use proteomics Some high-end longevity clinics are already forging ahead using proteomics to guide clinical recommendations, albeit cautiously. Dr. Evelyne Bischof, a longevity physician who treats patients worldwide, said she uses proteomic information to guide some of the lifestyle interventions she recommends to her patients. She may suggest a more polyphenol-rich diet to someone who seems to have high inflammation and neuroinflammation based on proteomic test results, or may even suggest they do a little more cognitive training, based on what proteomics says about how their brain is aging. Dr. Andrea Maier, a professor of medicine and functional aging at the National University of Singapore, told BI she uses this measurement all the time in her longevity clinics. For her, it's just a research tool, but if the results of her ongoing studies are decent, she hopes to be able to use it clinically in a few years' time. "We want to know what kind of 'ageotype' a person is, so what type of aging personality are you, not from a mental perspective, but from a physical perspective," Maier said. "It's really discovery at this moment in time, and at the edge of being clinically meaningful." "Once we have that validated tool, we will just add it to our routine testing and we can just tick the box and say, 'I also want to know if this person is a cardiac ager, or a brain ager, or a muscle ager' because now we have a sensitive parameter — protein — which can be added," Maier said. The two big-name proteomics tests are Olink and SOMAscan. For now, their high-end screening costs around $400-$800 per patient. "I'm losing lots of money at the moment because of proteomics for clinical research!" Maier said. Proteomics could soon help predict who's most likely to get certain cancers, fast-tracking both prevention and treatment Top aging researchers at Stanford and Harvard are pushing the field forward, racing to publish more novel insights about the human proteome. The latest findings from Harvard aging researcher Vadim Gladyshev's lab, published earlier this year, suggest that as we age, each person may even stand to benefit from a slightly different antiaging grocery list. To research this idea, Gladyshev looked at proteins in the blood of more than 50,000 people in the UK, all participants in the UK Biobank who are being regularly tested and studied to learn more about their long-term health. He tracked their daily habits and self-reported routines like diet, occupation, and prescriptions, comparing those details to how each patient's organs were aging. He discovered some surprising connections. Yogurt eating, generally speaking, tended to be associated with better intestinal aging but had relatively no benefit to the arteries. White wine drinking, on the other hand, seemed to potentially confer some small benefit to the arteries while wreaking havoc on the gut. "The main point is that people age in different ways in different organs, and therefore we need to find personalized interventions that would fit that particular person," Gladyshev told BI. "Through measuring proteins, you assess the age of different organs and you say, 'OK, this person is old in this artery.'" For now, there's too much noise in the data to do more. Dr. Pal Pacher, a senior investigator at the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism who studies organ aging and injuries, told BI that proteomics is simply not ready for clinical use yet. There's just too much noise in the data. But he imagines a future where a more sophisticated protein clock could help link up which people may be most vulnerable to diseases like early cancer, kidney disease, and more. (A California-based proteomics company called Seer announced last weekend that it is partnering with Korea University to study whether proteomics can help more quickly diagnose cancer in young people in their 20s and 30s.) "How beautiful could it be in the future?" Maier said. "Instead of three hours of clinical investigation, I would have a tool which guides me much, much better, with more validity towards interventions."
