Putin's scientists are developing the 'world's first drug' to delay ageing, it has been revealed, months after the Russian dictator, 73, told an AI conference: 'It is probably possible to reach 150.'
Putin is known to be obsessed with longevity. His foes fear he has a quest to live and rule for many decades before handing the reign over to his eldest son Ivan Spirodonov, now aged only 11.
Denis Sekirinsky, a Russian science and education minister, claimed his country's researchers are on course to develop the world's first gene-therapy drug designed to block the RAGE [Receptor for Advanced Glycation Endproducts] gene, the activation of which triggers cellular ageing.
He offered no concrete evidence for the bold claim, though it aligns with Putin’s long-term goals.
'[A promising area] is gene therapy of ageing,' said Sekirinsky, a Kremlin-linked technocrat.
'The RAGE gene is a receptor whose activation triggers cellular ageing, whereas blocking this gene, on the contrary, can prolong cellular youth.
'Based on this principle, an ambitious goal has been set — to develop the world's first gene-therapy drug that specifically blocks this receptor.
'The field relies on advanced genetic technologies and represents one of the most promising avenues in the fight against ageing.
Putin and Jinping were heard chatting about the possibility of achieving immortality with organ transplants and advanced medical procedures
'The development is being carried out by the Institute of Biology of Ageing and Medicine.'
He was speaking at a forum on the development of longevity medicine in Saransk.
Russian scientists were earlier revealed to have been ordered to hand over details of their latest research in fighting ageing in a suspected bid to keep the dictator and his circle of septuagenarian cronies alive.
A source said: 'The biggest boss [Putin] set a task, and officials rushed to implement it in every possible way.'
An informer revealed: 'We were asked to urgently send all our developments, and the letter came, let's say, today, and everything had to be sent yesterday.'
Experts were told to submit 'development proposals' to reduce cell deterioration.
They were instructed to highlight new technologies preventing cognitive and sensory impairment, as well as methods for correcting the immune system, and new medical technology based on bioprinting.
Back in November, Putin told an AI conference: 'It is probably possible to reach 150.'
But he complained this was not long enough, adding: 'It will always be too little, just like with money. Always.'
Earlier he was overheard giving Chinese leader Xi Jinping advice on how the two dictators could live to 150, claiming 'human organs can be continuously transplanted. The longer you live, the younger you become.'
Known for his long-standing obsession with longevity, the Russian dictator feels sufficiently secure to avoid publicly identifying or grooming a successor.
All his palaces are fitted with state of the art hospitals to keep him in peak condition
Putin's eldest daughter Maria Vorontsova, 40, an endocrinologist, is also suspected to be involved in the hugely-funded search for longer life in Russia.
The Kremlin ruler has decreed a Russian national project aimed at 'preserving the health' of its citizens including the fight against ageing, with an aim to save 175,000 lives by 2030.
At the same time, Putin's war against Ukraine is believed to have cost hundreds of thousands of lives.
He suffered a major blow last year with the sudden death at 77 of his long-standing anti-ageing guru Professor Vladimir Khavinson, director of the St Petersburg Institute of Bioregulation and Gerontology.
Khavinson famously claimed he was developing the secret for humans to live to 110 or 120 by slowing the process of ageing.
He described Putin as 'perfect' compared with three earlier Kremlin leaders - Leonid Brezhnev, Yuri Andropov and Boris Yeltsin - whose lives he helped to extend.
Putin along with his lover Alina Kabaeva, 42, is believed to have taken Khavinson's anti-ageing and curative cocktails, pioneered after years of secret research while working for the Soviet Red Army.
Investigative journalist and historian Ilya Davlyatchin claimed Putin is actually aiming at the age of 97, not 150.
'This is the year 2050,' he said, 'It's simple - then his eldest son Ivan will turn 35 - the age when one can be elected to the [Russian] presidential post.'