Alagebrium (formerly known as ALT-711; chemical name 4,5-imethyl-3-(2-oxo-2-phenylethyl)-thiazolium chloride) is a drug produced by Alteon Corporation, which is currently being evaluated in clinical trials. It is the first drug to be clinically tested for the purpose of breaking the crosslinks caused by advanced glycation endproducts (A.G.E.s), thereby reversing one of the main mechanisms of aging. Through this effect Alagebrium is designed to reverse the stiffening of blood vessel walls that contributes to hypertension and cardiovascular disease, as well as many other forms of degradation associated with protein crosslinking.