Telomir Pharmaceuticals Reports New Data Supporting an Epigenetic Modulation Mechanism Implicated in Cancer and Aging
Rhea-AI Summary
Telomir Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:TELO) reported preclinical cellular data showing its investigational compound Telomir-Zn rapidly increases intracellular zinc while reducing labile ferrous iron in cultured human cells. Effects occurred within 30 minutes and were sustained for two hours at low-micromolar doses without cytotoxicity. The company links this coordinated metal modulation to potential impacts on oxidative stress, mitochondrial function, DNA methylation, telomere stability, and genomic integrity, and plans an IND submission in Q1 2026 while preparing scientific presentations and manuscript submissions.
Positive
- Telomir-Zn caused rapid, dose-dependent intracellular zinc accumulation within 30 minutes
- Concurrent depletion of labile ferrous iron observed over similar concentrations and timeframes
- Effects occurred without loss of cell viability, indicating a non-cytotoxic mechanism
- Company plans IND submission in Q1 2026 and scheduled conference presentations in 2026
Negative
- All results are preclinical and limited to cultured human HaCaT cells, not clinical data
- Key findings are described prior to peer-reviewed publication; manuscripts are submitted but not yet published
- Efficacy and safety in humans remain untested pending IND review and clinical studies
News Market Reaction
On the day this news was published, TELO declined 3.45%, reflecting a moderate negative market reaction. This price movement removed approximately $1M from the company's valuation, bringing the market cap to $40M at that time.
Data tracked by StockTitan Argus on the day of publication.
Key Figures
Market Reality Check
Peers on Argus
TELO was down 1.69% with peers like TPST and PSTV also down (momentum median about -6.1%), indicating sector-wide biotech pressure rather than an isolated move.
Historical Context
| Date | Event | Sentiment | Move | Catalyst |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 05 | TNBC efficacy data | Positive | +11.2% | TNBC models showed reduced tumor growth and metastases versus controls. |
| Dec 18 | GLP safety results | Positive | +1.5% | GLP toxicology in rats and dogs showed no treatment-related toxicities. |
| Nov 25 | Prostate cancer data | Positive | +3.1% | Telomir-1 reduced PSA and tumor volume in prostate cancer models. |
| Nov 21 | Leukemia cell data | Positive | -7.9% | In vitro leukemia model showed dose-dependent reduction in viable HL60 cells. |
| Nov 12 | Iron chelation data | Positive | -4.9% | Telomir-1 outperformed deferoxamine in lowering intracellular ferrous iron. |
Preclinical positives often led to modest gains, but there are notable instances where positive data coincided with selloffs.
Over the last few months, Telomir has repeatedly reported positive preclinical data for Telomir-1, including leukemia cell killing, prostate cancer PSA reduction, and TNBC efficacy, alongside favorable GLP safety results. Reactions were mixed: some announcements saw gains above 11%, while others with similarly positive content saw declines near -8%. Today’s mechanistic metal-modulation data continues this preclinical narrative as the company advances toward an IND submission planned for Q1 2026.
Market Pulse Summary
This announcement adds mechanistic detail showing Telomir‑Zn increases intracellular zinc while reducing ferrous iron, linking earlier epigenetic and mitochondrial findings to upstream metal balance. It extends a sequence of positive preclinical oncology and safety readouts as Telomir prepares an IND submission planned for Q1 2026 and pursues a merger with TELI. Investors may watch for regulatory feedback, conference presentations, merger approvals, and progression into first‑in‑human studies.
Key Terms
epigenetic modulation medical
oxidative stress medical
mitochondrial dysfunction medical
dna methylation medical
reactive oxygen species (ROS) medical
telomere attrition medical
genomic instability medical
investigational new drug (ind) regulatory
AI-generated analysis. Not financial advice.
Cellular findings show Telomir-Zn modulates intracellular metal balance linked to oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, DNA methylation instability, and genomic integrity-without relying on cytotoxic mechanisms.
MIAMI, FLORIDA / ACCESS Newswire / February 5, 2026 / Telomir Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:TELO) ("Telomir" or the "Company"), a preclinical-stage biotechnology company developing small-molecule therapeutics targeting fundamental biological mechanisms implicated in cancer, aging, and degenerative disease, today announced new cellular study results demonstrating that Telomir-1, in the form of Telomir-Zn, induces a rapid and coordinated intracellular redistribution of zinc and iron.
These findings extend Telomir's previously reported intracellular iron-reduction data by directly demonstrating, for the first time, that Telomir-Zn simultaneously increases intracellular zinc while reducing redox-active ferrous iron inside living cells. The coupled nature of these effects supports a differentiated intracellular metal-modulating mechanism rather than simple extracellular metal chelation.
Why This Biology Matters in Cancer and Aging
Cancer and accelerated aging are increasingly understood to share common upstream biological drivers, including dysregulated metal homeostasis, excess oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, epigenetic instability, and cumulative genomic damage.
Redox-active metals such as iron and copper can catalyze the formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which, over time, contribute to mitochondrial damage, oxidative DNA lesions, disruption of DNA methylation patterns, and telomere attrition. These processes are closely associated with epigenetic drift, impaired DNA repair, and genomic instability-hallmarks observed across both tumor biology and age-associated cellular decline.
Zinc plays a distinct biological role. Unlike iron and copper, zinc is redox-inert under physiological conditions and supports chromatin structure, DNA repair, antioxidant defense systems, and telomere-associated genomic stability. Maintaining appropriate intracellular zinc availability while limiting excess redox-active metals is therefore central to preserving cellular function over time.
Study Overview and Key Findings
To assess whether Telomir-Zn alters intracellular metal pools, Telomir Pharmaceuticals, in collaboration with Smart Assays Biotechnologies, has quantified labile intracellular zinc and iron levels in cultured human HaCaT cells using complementary live-cell fluorescent probes.
Key observations include:
Rapid, dose-dependent zinc accumulation: Telomir-Zn exposure resulted in a measurable increase in intracellular zinc within 30 minutes, sustained over a two-hour period at low-micromolar concentrations, without loss of cell confluence or viability.
Reciprocal reduction of redox-active iron: Increasing Telomir-Zn concentrations were associated with progressive depletion of the intracellular ferrous iron pool, most closely linked to oxidative stress.
Coordinated intracellular modulation: Zinc accumulation and iron reduction occurred over similar concentration ranges and timeframes, supporting a coordinated intracellular process rather than independent or nonspecific metal effects.
Mechanistic Interpretation: Linking Metals, Mitochondria, Epigenetics, and Telomeres
Excess intracellular iron and copper are known to impair mitochondrial respiration, amplify ROS generation, and disrupt metal-dependent enzymes that regulate chromatin structure and DNA methylation. Several histone demethylases and DNA repair enzymes require tightly regulated Fe²⁺ availability, and metal imbalance can destabilize epigenetic control systems and accelerate genomic stress.
The observed Telomir-Zn-associated increase in intracellular zinc, coupled with a reduction of labile iron, is consistent with a proposed intracellular mechanism by which modulation of metal availability may attenuate oxidative stress while supporting zinc-dependent regulatory functions. These pathways are closely linked to mitochondrial health, epigenetic regulation, telomere maintenance, and long-term genomic stability, supporting the potential relevance of this mechanism across both oncology and age-associated disease biology.
Importantly, the epigenetically associated effects observed in these studies do not rely on inducing cellular damage or cytotoxic stress, distinguishing this approach from many existing epigenetic strategies that act through DNA damage or broad transcriptional disruption.
Management Commentary
"These findings link our earlier epigenetic and mitochondrial observations to a clear upstream mechanism-intracellular metal imbalance," said Erez Aminov, CEO of Telomir Pharmaceuticals. "By simultaneously reducing redox-active iron while introducing protective zinc, Telomir-Zn appears to influence oxidative stress, DNA methylation, and genomic stability in a way that does not rely on cellular damage. We believe this approach has important implications for how cancer and age-related disease may be addressed at their biological roots."
"For decades, cancer and age-related diseases have largely been approached by targeting downstream consequences-uncontrolled growth, accumulated damage, or end-stage dysfunction," said Dr. Itzchak Angel, Chief Scientific Advisor at Telomir Pharmaceuticals. "What is emerging here is a different biological strategy: addressing upstream drivers such as oxidative stress, mitochondrial instability, and epigenetic drift that are shared across these conditions. By demonstrating for the first time that Telomir-Zn can simultaneously modulate intracellular zinc and iron-key regulators of DNA methylation, redox balance, and telomere-associated genomic stability-these findings support a framework that could fundamentally change how we think about intervening in cancer and aging biology, without relying on toxicity or cellular injury."
Ongoing Activities and Upcoming Scientific Presentations
Telomir Pharmaceuticals plans to present data related to Telomir-Zn and its mechanism of action at several upcoming scientific and industry meetings, including:
16th World Congress on Breast Cancer Research & Therapies, March 23-24, 2026 (Paris, France)
AACR Annual Meeting 2026, April 17-22, 2026 (San Diego, CA)
BIO International Convention, June 22-25, 2026 (San Diego, CA)
3rd International Conference on Women's Health and Breast Cancer, October 5-6, 2026 (Tokyo, Japan)
IND Preparation and Ongoing Research Activities
Telomir Pharmaceuticals is finalizing IND-enabling activities for Telomir-Zn, including assembly of the required data package to support regulatory submission. The Company currently plans to submit an Investigational New Drug (IND) application in the first quarter of 2026.
In parallel, Telomir continues to advance a portfolio of ongoing and completed preclinical research programs, including studies in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) models and longevity-focused models, evaluating the biological relevance of Telomir-Zn's intracellular metal-modulating and epigenetically associated mechanisms.
Based on data generated from completed studies, manuscript submissions to peer-reviewed journals have been initiated, while additional data continue to be generated from ongoing preclinical studies. These efforts also support planned and upcoming scientific conference presentations.
About Telomir Pharmaceuticals
Telomir Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:TELO) is a preclinical-stage biotechnology company developing small-molecule therapeutics designed to target fundamental epigenetic and metabolic mechanisms implicated in cancer, aging, and degenerative disease. The Company's lead program, Telomir-1 (Telomir-Zn), has demonstrated activity in preclinical studies involving modulation of intracellular metal homeostasis, redox balance, epigenetically regulated gene expression, mitochondrial function, and genomic stability.
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This press release, statements of Telomir's management or advisors related thereto, and the statements contained in the news story linked in this release contain "forward-looking statements," which are statements other than historical facts made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the potential use of the data from our studies, our ability to develop and commercialize Telomir-1 for specific indications, and the safety of Telomir-1.
Any forward-looking statements in this press release are based on Telomir's current expectations, estimates and projections only as of the date of this release. These and other risks concerning Telomir's programs and operations are described in additional detail in its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024, which are on file with the SEC and available at www.sec.gov. Telomir explicitly disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements except to the extent required by law.
Contact Information
Krystina Quintana
Email: info@telomirpharma.com
Phone: (786) 396-6723
SOURCE: Telomir Pharmaceuticals, Inc
View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire
FAQ
What cellular effects did Telomir-Zn show in Telomir Pharmaceuticals (TELO) studies?
How might TELO's Telomir-Zn mechanism relate to cancer and aging biology?
Is Telomir-Zn cytotoxic according to the February 5, 2026 announcement for TELO?
What development milestones did Telomir Pharmaceuticals (TELO) announce for Telomir-Zn?
Where and when will TELO present Telomir-Zn data in 2026?
Have Telomir's Telomir-Zn findings been peer-reviewed or tested in humans?
