In the past few years, longevity research has moved from the edges of science into more traditional drug development.
Rather than trying to halt or reverse aging directly, drugmakers are homing in on treatments for specific age-related diseases, such as neurodegeneration or vision loss, by tackling the underlying processes that become more common as people get older.
Life Biosciences marked a major milestone for the space in January when its cellular rejuvenation therapy for vision-robbing nerve damage became the first therapy using epigenetic reprogramming to enter human clinical trials, according to the company. The treatment, ER-100, is designed to reprogram aging cells into a more youthful state without changing the underlying DNA.
Two other longevity-focused biotechs, Retro Biosciences, which has amassed a $1.8 billion valuation, and Lysoway Therapeutics, also recently moved their investigational candidates, RTR242 and LW-1017, into phase 1 trials. Both target neurodegeneration by enhancing autophagy, the body’s intrinsic recycling system that clears cellular debris.
Other big names in the space, including Altos Labs, aren’t in the clinic yet but are heading in that direction.
Investing in longer lives
The clinical progress in longevity science is getting backed by big investment dollars.
Since 2024, private investment has more than doubled, reaching about $8.5 billion in a market projected to reach $8 trillion by 2030.
Research isn’t limited to niche biotechs. Big Pharma companies are establishing divisions focused on aging biology and striking deals in the space, like the collaboration Novartis inked with BioAge Labs, worth up to $550 million, to give the Swiss drugmaker access to BioAge’s human longevity datasets to guide drug development. Eli Lilly is also collaborating with BioAge on several undisclosed drug targets.
The field is increasingly relying on AI for new insights. Insilico Medicine and the Human Life Foundation Models, a new company launched by Human Longevity, recently announced a multi-million-dollar AI co-development pact to develop large-scale models designed to better understand the biological mechanisms involved in aging, which could lay important groundwork for progress in the field.
Longevity drugs may already be here
While money is pushing progress, researchers are also benefitting from new understandings about the biological changes that drive diseases. One such insight is that the first true longevity drugs — GLP-1s — may already be here.
Scientists from Lilly and Novo Nordisk advanced this idea at a conference last year. GLP-1s could qualify as longevity drugs because of their ability to reverse multiple conditions that shorten lifespans. They address multiple hallmarks of biological aging, such as chronic inflammation, and have demonstrated protective effects on both the heart and brain.
While the longevity field has seen success, it’s also grappled with a few stumbles. Unity Biotechnology, which was exploring treatments aimed at selectively eliminating aging cells, shut down its program last year after its eye treatment failed to show a clear benefit over the standard of care.
This year may yield some critical information about the future of the field as multiple readouts are expected. Life Biosciences may release early safety data by the end of the year, and Retro Biosciences may have some data to share as early as August, according to STAT.
The field has also received government backing that may help fuel progress. Earlier this year, the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health awarded $144 million to several aging intervention projects. But there is still uncertainty ahead as companies work to turn lab science into results and formal FDA approvals.
