In a San Francisco laboratory, scientists and researchers are focusing on an ambitious goal: giving dogs a longer (and hopefully healthy) life.
The biotech startup Loyal has developed a treatment that has the potential to transform not only the existence of our four-legged friends, but also our understanding of the aging process. Let's take a look together.
A step towards eternity: the desire for a longer life for dogs
I open a parenthesis of general context: scientists, as you know, have long been interested in finding ways to slow down the aging process and make life longer. Previous nematode research has modified two cellular pathways for extend their lifespan by 500% . Earlier this year, scientists reportedly have reversed the signs of aging in mice.
For many, dogs are not just pets, but full members of the family. For this reason, the idea of being able to prolong their lives is immensely attractive. A dog's lifespan, which averages between 10 and 13 years, is only a fraction of a human's. Larger breeds, in particular, have even shorter life expectancies.
Adopting a dog means accepting the future pain of their loss, although the bond and love that develops over time makes this sacrifice worth it. Can this state of affairs be changed?
LOY-001: a leap in the science of aging
The anti-aging drug for dogs, LOY-001, has already passed the first of the hurdles needed for approval by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the United States. Although there are no clinical trials yet, this is the first time the FDA has shown openness towards longevity drugs. Good sign.
The CEO of Loyal, Celine Halioua, believes that dogs, facing age-related problems similar to humans, can be an effective model to better study human physiology, in search of solutions to make our lives longer too.
The next steps
Loyal plans to begin a large clinical study of LOY-001 involving approximately 1.000 large dogs between 2024 and 2025, with the goal of bringing the product to market by 2026. The treatment is designed for healthy older dogs aged seven and weighing more than 18 kg, and will be administered every three to six months by a veterinarian. The hypothesis? Work on growth hormone. The drug for adult dogs aims to reduce it, extending life and reducing degeneration related to ageing.
How much longer will the lives of our four-legged friends be? Finding out is precisely the goal of the experimentation. “We're not creating immortal dogs, to be clear,” Halioua says, “but the rate of aging will be slower, she hopes, meaning the animal will stay in a healthier state for longer.”
The idea of making our dogs' lives longer (and healthier) is a dream that could soon become reality. Loyal and his innovative drug LOY-001 represent the tip of the iceberg in a sea of possibilities. While awaiting the results of research and trials, we can only imagine a future in which the bond between humans and dogs lasts even longer, enriching our lives with love and companionship for many more years.
