As Tristan Roberts underwent experimental gene therapy treatment at his own cost, a researcher from Ascendance Biomedical watched online.
Roberts belongs to an innovative DIY movement in biology and medical science that allows anyone to experiment with recent scientific breakthroughs at home.
Though these experiments may appear harmless, their risks could potentially raise ethical and safety issues among DIYers.
What is Biohacking?
Biohacking is a term used to refer to any form of biological experimentation conducted outside clinical trials. This could include anything from altering genetic material to injecting themselves with unlicensed medicine. Biohackers believe that innovations in biology should be accessible to everyone, and speed up research processes by testing new products on themselves.
Biohackers often undertake their experiments with good intentions in mind; however, sometimes the experiments don’t go exactly according to plan. Aaron Traywick of Ascendance Biomedical was an unfortunate reminder of the risks involved with biohacking work when his death in late April was announced. Traywick became notorious in biohacking circles following a public demonstration of an experimental herpes cure back in February that caused controversy within their movement; following which many colleagues began distancing themselves from him prior to his passing away.
Biohackers remain committed to their work despite its inherent risks, often inspired by recent scientific breakthroughs that may improve their lives and willing to take risks to do so. Not only do biohackers experiment with their bodies; they also support projects like Berkeley BioLabs which makes available laboratory equipment for scientists as well as work towards encouraging discussion about biotechnology by organizing lectures and workshops.
What is Ascendance Biomedical?
Aaron Traywick of Ascendance Biomedical is taking biohacking to an extreme with their purported treatments for HIV, Aids, herpes and other diseases – but with no proof these drugs work – or what their ingredients consist of. At one recent event he even stripped naked and administered what he claimed to be an experimental herpes treatment via self injection; all this could be found livestreamed online.
DIY biotech, or do-it-yourself biotechnology, allows high schoolers to engineer bacteria for science fair projects; hobbyists to clone DNA via mail-order kits; and community labs to administer gene therapies directly. Although selling compounds as medications without FDA approval is illegal, chemical research compounds like those used by Traywick’s self-injection are widely available and those involved with biohacking do it to try subvert an approval system they believe has become corrupted due to big pharma and for-profit companies’ influence; those engaging in biohacking do so out of an attempt at subverting said approval system through biohacking as an attempt at subverting corrupt drug approval processes by bypassing regulatory approval processes that they believe corrupt the drug approval system.
Why is Ascendance Biomedical a Biohacking Company?
Ascendance Biomedical is a company that develops gene therapies designed to cure herpes and HIV, part of a growing community of DIY enthusiasts in biology, medical science, genetics and more who operate outside traditional research institutes and pharmaceutical firms. Aside from treating herpes and HIV with gene therapies, Ascendance Biomedical is also working on one for muscle building/reducing fat. On both its website and Facebook page there is no listing of employees/advisors as Traywick hopes this allows his staff to be candid about experiments without fearing legal/reputative risks being exposed.
Biohackers, those tinkerers who explore DNA’s potential applications within humans, often experiment on themselves in order to bypass clinical trial restrictions and share their results publicly.
Grinder biohackers take biohacking experimentation one step further by employing scientific knowledge and interests to experiment on themselves or upgrade their minds or bodies, expedite cures or synthesize cheaper and faster medicines. Grinders may use stem cells and gene-splicing proteins, consume microbiomes or implant computer chips that transmit body data or activate devices as part of their experiments.
What is Ascendance Biomedical’s Business Model?
Ascendance Biomedical’s business model centers around selling DIY gene therapies and DNA editing tools that allow individuals to modify the human body. They do this through taking advantage of a regulatory loophole which permits people to sell chemical research compounds not approved by FDA as medicine, such as those commonly found in science lab experiments that can legally be purchased and then injected into people for experimentation purposes.
Tristan Roberts became famous after live-streaming an untested HIV treatment and live-streaming it on Facebook, while Josiah Zaynor of biohacking company The Odin performed CRISPR gene editing technology on himself, and claimed it can cure herpes and HIV.
Self-experiments are risky and ineffective in reaching people in need. Medical science needs a faster, more nimble, and efficient process for turning innovative ideas into approved treatments available widely for patients.
What is Ascendance Biomedical’s Vision?
Aaron Traywick was an influential member of the biohacking community before his death, having founded Ascendance Biomedical as an amateur scientific venture aimed at curing diseases such as HIV/Aids/herpes. Traywick caused much contention with his claims of cures and stunts such as dropping his pants livestream event to inject himself with herpes vaccine; furthermore, he disregarded legality by self-administering unapproved medications, encouraging others to follow suit and circumvent laws as part of progressing his field.
A 28-year-old computer programmer injected himself with DNA plasmids intended to transfect his fat cells and induce them to produce HIV-neutralizing antibodies, then waited a month to see whether his body actually produced these antibodies and livestreamed his progress on Facebook.
This experiment provided a glimpse into a world where individuals with minimal formal scientific training conduct experiments on themselves and each other using DIY lab equipment, often at great personal risk. Although some experts consider such community to be risky, experts also see its potential advantages in speeding research by bypassing institutional red tape that often slows it down.
What is Ascendance Biomedical’s Mission?
The company set out to develop gene therapies that would treat herpes, HIV, cancer and aging – without traditional clinical trials or FDA approval processes consuming time and resources.
Aaron Traywick was an esteemed member of the “biohacker” community – an informal network dedicated to making advances in biology available and accessible to all. Biohackers use do-it-yourself techniques such as crafting glow-in-the-dark beer or cloning frogs using DIY approaches in their homes or public spaces; there are now hacker conferences and community labs across the nation where high school students, home gene-editers and biomedical startup owners come together for joint experiments.
Traywick made headlines last February by injecting himself with an experimental herpes vaccine at a biohacker conference in Texas, drawing crowds and media interest. At that same event, he also announced an experimental HIV treatment using synthetic protein known as N6.
But scientists and bioethicists were skeptical of his claims; many felt his antics gave the movement a poor reputation. He eventually sued Gizmodo and another biohacker named Josiah Zayner for defamation.
A 28-year-old computer programmer had no formal training in genetic engineering or medicine, yet his peers saw him as an influential member of their movement to hasten development of medicines like N6. They believed the traditional research process was moving too slowly for their liking and wanted an alternate route to taking place.
