A longevity pill for dogs is coming soon. Could it also work for humans?
Humans have been searching for a fountain of youth for millennia. Now, there may be one — for canines. And we might be next.
In an exciting development for pet parents, Loyal, a U.S.-based startup dedicated to extending the lives of our furry friends, has said it expects to release of its first longevity pill for dogs in early 2025. Designed to enhance the quality of life and lifespan of dogs, this groundbreaking product is the culmination of years of research into the biology of Aging and the unique factors influencing canine health.
LOY-002 – a daily, beef-flavoured pill – could reportedly give dogs a minimum of one extra year of healthy life. “We’re not making immortal dogs,” Celine Halioua, founder and chief executive of Loyal, told The Guardian. “The way the drug extends lifespan, we hypothesise, is by extending health and thus shortening the rate of aging.”
Targeting metabolic changes associated with aging
The longevity pill leverages advances in molecular biology and genetics to target the fundamental mechanisms of aging in dogs. At its core, the pill contains compounds that reduce inflammation, improve cellular repair mechanisms, and optimize mitochondrial function—all critical factors in delaying the onset of age-related diseases. The formula is specifically calibrated to the metabolic and physiological needs of dogs, taking into account variations in size, breed, and lifespan.
The pill’s development was informed by extensive studies of aging biomarkers in dogs, including research conducted in partnership with leading veterinary schools and canine health organizations. As we reported in 2022, Halioua and her team analyzed data from nearly 500 dogs who had been brought in to a vet clinic for health assessment, and in another study, they recruited about 2,000 dog owners to receive DNA swab kits that might lead to better understanding of the markers of aging. Studies showed promising results, with treated dogs exhibiting increased vitality, fewer signs of age-related decline, and, in some cases, measurable extensions in lifespan. Researchers also observed significant improvements in cognitive function and mobility in older dogs.
The San Francisco-based firm has raised $125m in funding. Per The Guardian, this financing came mainly from companies who have “held back from Investing in human longevity projects” because of how long these trials typically take.
The interplay between human and canine aging
Numerous research projects have succeeded in extending the lifespan, in certain situations, of worms and fruit flies and mice – with the hope that these wins will help researchers in the quest to replicate the same lab results in humans. Dogs, however, offer an even more promising opportunity since they’re such close companions to humans.
“Finding out how to prevent canine age-related decline is a really strong proxy for doing the same with humans because dogs get similar age-related diseases and share our environments and habits in ways laboratory mice do not,” Halioua said.
Loyal isn’t the only company exploring ways to extend canine lifespan. Other biotech firms, such as Rejuvenate Bio, are investing in similar endeavors, including senolytic drugs, gene therapies, and nutritional supplements for dogs. Together, these companies are transforming the field of veterinary medicine and raising important questions about the interplay between canine and human aging.
Indeed, several compounds under investigation for dogs are also being studied for potential applications in humans. For example, rapamycin, a drug that has shown promise in extending lifespan in mice, is being analyzed for both canine and human use. (Read our story on why researchers say rapamycin could add years to our lifespan.)
The drug has been a key focus of the Dog Aging Project, a collaborative research initiative that studies aging processes in thousands of dogs across the U.S. Preliminary results from the project suggest that rapamycin can improve heart health, cognitive function, and overall vitality in aging dogs. These findings not only underscore the potential for canine longevity but also provide insights that could translate to human medicine. You can be sure we’ll be keeping our eyes on this one!
More from SuperAging News:
Beyond companionship: How having a pet can help you live longer
According to longevity experts, people who live to 100 have these 6 things in common
Mice live 25% longer when this inflammatory protein is blocked. What does this mean for humans?
Never say never: 12 SuperAgers who continued to make their mark later in life
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