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.

'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.'