VAS101, a Novel Curcumin Transdermal Formulation, Reverses Some Clinical Hallmarks of Aging

SUMMIT, N.J., March 17, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- In a new study published in the journal GeroScience, VAS101 (Vasceptor®), a novel curcumin transdermal formulation developed by Vascarta Inc. (Summit, NJ, USA), when administered topically twice weekly i) restored physical and cognitive function in aged mice as well as improving markers of frailty; ii) reduced age associated inflammation (inflammaging) markers in multiple organs; iii) initiated tissue remodeling in aging hearts; and iv) lowered interleukin 11 (IL-11) expression in the kidney. The inhibition of IL-11 via a biologic was recently shown to increase the life span of mice [see Widjaja, A.A., et al, Inhibition of IL-11 signaling extends mammalian healthspan and lifespan. Nature, 632(8023), pp.157-165]. The present study also demonstrated that topically applied VAS101 can accelerate restoration of vascular health as reflected in normalizing blood pressure in an endothelial dysfunction model.

Vascular health is generally regarded as key to general health with endothelial dysfunction responsible for many age-related system failures. VAS101 provides a unique mechanism for delivery of curcumin to the endothelial lining of those blood vessels that are essential for vascular health.  VAS101 was shown in prior studies to effectively load red blood cells with curcumin (Curc-RBCs), improving both their ex vivo stability and extending circulation time in a surrogate animal model. Curc-RBCs were also shown to cross the blood brain barrier and deactivate activated mast cells and microglia and, in turn, limit chronic pain and neuro-inflammation. Curc-RBCs are not targeted by immune cells nor, like many intravenously- administered drugs and nanoparticle delivery vehicles, subjected to hepatic first-pass effect, thus allowing for full and sustained systemic delivery of the active ingredient.

Unlike oral curcumin, which is poorly absorbed, rapidly cleared and otherwise entangled with albumin and other circulating proteins, VAS101, through its subsequent enrichment of Curc-RBCs, uniquely reaches the endothelial layer of smaller and narrower blood vessels that are most critical for organ and tissue health and function.

The many positive effects of VAS101 are at least in part attributable to the known nitric oxide (NO) enhancing capability of curcumin. Curcumin delivery to small diameter blood vessels is an optimal strategy for improving vascular function by enhancing local levels of NO in the endothelium.

Joel Friedman, M.D., Ph.D., professor of microbiology & immunology and of medicine at Albert Einstein College of Medicine and Vascarta Scientific Founder and Head, Scientific Advisory Board, stated, "Realizing curcumin's well-documented effects on general health have been limited by the ability to achieve sustained, therapeutic concentrations in target tissues. What has been needed is a safe, cost-effective, and easy to use formulation that can be deployed over an extended period of time that targets the appropriate tissues. Transdermal VAS101 (Vasceptor®) may fill this gap and provide a novel way to restore some key elements of vascular health and slow and possibly reverse the aging process." [Dr. Friedman is a co-author on the GeroScience paper and the inventor of VAS-101 which is exclusively licensed to Vascarta from the Albert Einstein College of Medicine (Bronx, New York, USA)].

Senior author Derek Huffman, Ph.D., professor of molecular pharmacology and of medicine and Co-Director of the Nathan Shock Center at Einstein, remarked, "We observed that a short intervention with transdermal VAS101 resulted in a number of favorable effects on health in mice.  This included improved aspects of health span such as exercise capacity and reduced frailty. Based upon these data, VAS101 may have potential to be a safe and effective therapeutic to treat aging."

Dr. Richard Prince, Vascarta Chairman, CEO and President, said, "As part of our commitment to making the health benefits of curcumin widely available, we are initiating human studies and will seek FDA approval of transdermal Vasceptor® in a range of conditions characterized by pain and inflammation."

About Vascarta

Vascarta is a clinical stage pharmaceutical company exploring efficient transdermal delivery of pharmaceuticals to address several conditions with an initial focus on sickle cell disease and osteoarthritis. For those interested in learning more about Vascarta's clinical programs, contact Chairman, CEO & President Dr. Richard Prince at [email protected].  Media requests should be directed to David Hymson at [email protected].

Publication Authors & Affiliations

Kai Mao^1,2,4, Ruixuan Wang^1,4, Kateryna Karpoff^1,4, Daniel Kerr⁵, Probal Banerjee⁶, Joel M. Friedman^2,3,7 and Derek M. Huffman^1,2,4,†

Departments of ¹Molecular Pharmacology, ²Medicine, ³Microbiology & Immunology, and the ⁴Institute for Aging Research, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA
⁵The Center for Developmental Neuroscience and ⁶Department of Chemistry, CUNY College of Staten Island, NY 10314, USA

⁷Vascarta Inc, Summit, NJ, 07901, USA 

SOURCE Vascarta Inc