Retro Biosciences

Retro Biosciences focus on cellular reprogramming, autophagy and plasma-inspired therapeutics.

<div>Retro Biosciences designs therapeutics capable of multi-disease prevention by focusing on cellular drivers of aging. The company claims to have a mission to extend its lifespan by 10 years. As of November 2023, Retro Biosciences was working with aging mechanisms, for which interventions have shown robust proofs of concept in mammals and have a potential path to translation to humans.&nbsp;</div>

Longevity Tech

Multiply Labs and Retro Biosciences Partner on Cell Therapy Manufacturing for Age-Related Diseases

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 Retro Biosciences designs therapeutics capable of multi-disease prevention by focusing on cellular drivers of aging. The company claims to have a mission to extend its lifespan by 10 years. As of November 2023, Retro Biosciences was working with aging mechanisms, for which interventions have shown robust proofs of concept in mammals and have a potential path to translation to humans.&nbsp;
 
 
 
 
 It develops programs based on cellular reprogramming, plasma-inspired therapeutics, and autophagy. These programs are claimed to be diversified across mechanisms and development stages.
 
 
 
 
 As of October 2023, it had a molecule in the autophagy program that was planned to enter the clinical stage in 2024. In the plasma program, the company was characterizing and optimizing plasma interventions in preclinical and clinical settings, with the first development candidate expected two years after. In addition, the cellular reprogramming effort is close to fundamental research, and it intends to work toward a clinical proof-of-concept over the next four years. To support these three programs, the company claims to be investing heavily in single-cell multi-omics, machine-learning-based computational biology, and lab automation.
 
 
 
 
 Funding and financials
 
 
 
 
 The company raised USD 180 million in April 2022 from Sam Altman, the CEO of OpenAI.
 
 
 
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Mitrix Bio addresses mitochondrial dysfunction by developing bioreactor-grown mitochondria to be transplanted into the human body to regenerate organs, reverse age-related disease, and support other longevity therapies. Large-scale mitochondrial transfusion could potentially treat Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, AMD, glaucoma, infectious disease, and other age-related diseases, along with children's mitochondrial mutation diseases. The company believes that the same technique can be used in healing and reducing frailty for the aged, speeding healing of wounded soldiers, or combating aging itself. The company is developing technologies and infrastructure targeting to reverse mitochondrial mtDNA degeneration targeting parts of the body that most commonly experience mitochondrial dysfunction. The company has six programs at preclinical stages in its pipeline (as of October 2023). These programs are focused on immunology (infectious diseases), neurology (Alzheimer's/Parkinson’s), ophthalmology (AMD/glaucoma), dermatology (aking aging/wound healing), musculo-skeletal (sarcopenia, frailty), and organs (liver/kidney).

Mitrix Bio

Sierra Sciences engages in research to develop therapeutics targeting aging based on telomeres. These get shorter as people age and lead to various diseases. The company aims to extend the human lifespan and healthspan based on addressing telomere shortening as a solution to address effects of human aging. The company receives royalties from the sale of Product B, a nutraceutical supplement developed in a partnership and distributed through Isagenix. The company develops therapeutics focused on pharmaceuticals to slow and reverse the aging process, nutraceuticals to slow and reverse aging, telomere protection, telomere length measurement, cancer diagnostics, cancer treatments, telomerase gene therapy, immortal pet cloning, and human growth hormones.

Sierra Sciences

Turn.bio is a biotech company developing therapies based on epigenetic reprogramming and reverse cellular aging. The company develops mRNA medicines that induce the body to heal itself by instructing specific cells to fight disease or repair damaged tissue. This is focused on reprogramming the epigenome to restore capabilities that are often lost with age. Its proprietary ERA Platform can reportedly be used to revitalize different cells throughout the body. The company is exploring its applicability across multiple therapeutic areas, including dermatologic conditions, immunology, osteoarthritis, and ophthalmology. The platform is claimed to enable control of the time, duration, and dosage of transcription factors to optimize the mRNA cocktail for each indication. This reportedly allows control of reprogramming, moving the epigenome to a more youthful state step-by-step by carefully pulsing the cell with the transcription factors. The company claims to have discovered that the use of quiescent stem cells can significantly help to repair or replace specific types of damaged tissue. In these cases, the company reportedly deploys its Artificial Niche (AN) technology to protect the stem cells. AN technology combines stem-cell biology with biomolecular materials engineering and micro-fabrication technologies to generate novel cell-culture platforms that mimic crucial biochemical or structural aspects of the niche. turn.bio’s novel eTurna Platform can reportedly deliver a variety of cargoes requiring different routes of administration and be fine-tuned and targeted to specific tissue and cells. Funding and financials In July 2022, biotech company VitaDAO made a USD 1,000,000 investment into turn.bio. The investment was intended to fund turn.bio’s preclinical efficacy testing phase for mRNA therapeutics for dermatological and ophthalmological longevity research.

Turn.bio

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 AgeX Therapeutics is a biotech company engaged in the development and commercialization of novel therapeutics focused on aging.&nbsp;
 
 
 
 
 The company is building upon the foundation of its proprietary technologies, such as PureStem and induced Tissue Regeneration, to develop medicines targeting aging and related diseases. Through PureStem, the company claims to have the ability to generate pluripotent stem cell-derived young cells of any type for potential application in a range of degenerative diseases of aging. iTM is claimed to be the company's longevity platform intending to unlock cellular immortality and regenerative capacity to reverse age-related changes in the body.
 
 
 
 
 Its product pipeline includes two cell-based and two iTR-based product candidates in development: AGEX-BAT1 and AGEX-VASC1.
 
 
 AGEX-BAT1 is a cell therapy product candidate in the discovery stage of development utilizing PSC-derived brown adipocytes for the treatment of certain age-related metabolic disorders, such as type 2 (adult-onset) diabetes and obesity. AGEX-VASC1 is a cell-based therapy in the discovery stage of development, composed of young regenerative vascular-forming cells.&nbsp;
 
 
 
 
 The company was founded by leading gerontologist, bioentrepreneur, and Ph.D. holder Dr. Michael D. West,&nbsp; a highly-regarded pioneer in cellular aging, stem cell research, telomerase, and cloning.
 
 
 
 
 In August 2023, the company entered a merger agreement with Serina Therapeutics, a privately held, clinical-stage biotech company developing a pipeline of therapies for the treatment of Parkinson&rsquo;s disease and other neurological diseases. Under this, Serina merged with a wholly-owned subsidiary of AgeX therapeutics in an all-stock transaction. The combined company continues under the &ldquo;Serina Therapeutics&rdquo; name and focuses on advancing Serina&rsquo;s pipeline of small-molecule drug candidates targeting central nervous systems indications.
 
 
 
 
 Funding and financials
 
 
 
 
 The company recorded total revenue of USD 34 million in 2022, compared to USD 144 million in 2021 (77% decrease). This is due to absence of grant revenues in 2022, as opposed to 2021, where grant revenue was USD 104 million. Net loss reported for 2022 was USD 10.5 million, compared to the loss of USD 8.7 million recorded in the preceding year.
 
 
 
 
 
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AgeX Therapeutics

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 UNITY Biotechnology develops therapeutics targeting age-related diseases, particularly focusing on therapy in ophthalmologic diseases, including diabetic macular edema and age-related neurologic conditions.
 
 
 
 
 Its therapeutics are intended to selectively eliminate or modulate senescent cells to slow down, stop, or even reverse age-related disease and restore aging or damaged tissue to a more functionally healthy state. The approach is expected to remedy diseases of aging, such as retinopathies, neurodegenerative disorders, fibrosis, and cancer.&nbsp;
 
 
 
 
 The company&rsquo;s lead drug candidate, UBX1325, is evaluated for the treatment of age-related diseases of the eye, including diabetic macular edema. The small molecule targets Bcl-xL, a protein that senescent cells rely on for survival. It is claimed that UBX1325 demonstrated a statistically significant and clinically meaningful improvement in mean best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) across 48 weeks compared to sham treatment in the Phase II BEHOLD study in patients with DME. A Phase IIb study (ASPIRE) was enrolling patients with DME to evaluate UBX1325 head-to-head against aflibercept.
 
 
 
 
 UNITY Biotechnology was also developing programs targeting the Tie2 signaling pathway for therapeutic benefit. Tie2 pathway activity declines with age and causes the loss of vascular barrier integrity and diseased blood vessel formation in the eye. The Tie2/VEGF bispecific molecule targets two pathways believed to be core to disease progression in DME and AMD. Another program directed at Tie2 activation is in preclinical studies for multiple indications.
 
 
 
 
 The company's neurology programs intend to explore new mechanisms for cognitive benefit, and the company licensed its &alpha;-Klotho program, UBX2089, to Jocasta Neuroscience for development and commercialization in cognitive dysfunction associated with neurological and psychiatric conditions.
 
 
 
 
 
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UNITY Biotechnology

Companies conducting R&D on cell and gene therapies that aim to repair or replace dysfunctional cells to address the root cause of age-related diseases

Companies involved in the development of novel small molecules or chemical drugs that target specific proteins or pathways in the body to treat age-related diseases as well as the identification of existing drugs that can be repurposed for the treatment of such diseases

Platforms and tools that collect and analyze patient data to detect, prevent, and monitor age-related damage

Dietary supplements and wellness products that are developed through scientific approaches to slow down age-related damage

Companies developing therapies for age-related sensory deficiencies such as vision and hearing loss

Companies in the neurotechnology sector that develop tools such as neuroimaging and neurostimulation devices; pharmaceutical drugs and therapies aimed at treating age-related neurological conditions

Diagnostic tests and services focused on assessing the health of an individual's gut microbiome and their metabolic processes to identify internal age-related issues

Platforms and tools that provide personalized remedies for general well-being and to mitigate the risk of age-related diseases

Genomics is used for diagnostics and to offer tailored treatment for age-related diseases

Offers digital platforms and devices that allow individuals to measure, track, and potentially modify the physiological changes associated with aging

AL/ML is used in drug discovery and development as well as diagnostic tools to support longevity-related treatments

Retro Biosciences

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