The FDA has allowed Life Biosciences to begin the first human study of an epigenetic “reprogramming” gene therapy, enrolling a small cohort of glaucoma patients under the ER‑100 program. The trial will deliver viral vectors encoding three reprogramming factors to one eye per patient with gene expression controlled by doxycycline, a safety switch designed to limit continuous activation. The approach—aimed at reversing cellular ageing signals—has raised safety questions after prior animal work showed oncogenic risk; Life Biosciences and co-founder David Sinclair said preclinical safety data supported the clinic-ready protocol.