Cedars-Sinai Develops TY1 DNA Repair Drug

Scientists at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, led by Eduardo Martínez and Ahmad Ibrahim, have developed an experimental RNA-based drug called TY1. This drug is designed to repair DNA damage and restore injured tissue, acting as a prototype for a new class of medications called exomers. The discovery stems from over two decades of research, beginning with the isolation of progenitor cells at Johns Hopkins University and later identifying therapeutic RNA molecules within exosomes at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. TY1 works by enhancing the action of the TREX1 gene, which helps immune cells clear damaged DNA, thereby minimizing scar tissue formation after events like heart attacks and showing promise for autoimmune diseases. The research was published in Science Translational Medicine and supported by grants from the United States — National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute and the United States — California Institute for Regenerative Medicine. Clinical trials for TY1 are planned.