Longevity drug for dogs could extend life of pets, and maybe humans

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Move over, cats with nine lives. A new longevity drug for dogs aims to extend the life of Fido while also helping humans live longer.

A U.S. biotech company’s anti-aging drugs are designed to extend the lifespan of your canine companion, according to the New York Post.

“The longevity space is crowded right now, and for good reason,” Celine Halioua, founder and CEO of Loyal, told the Post. “We all want to figure out how to get more happy, healthy years for our loved ones —especially the furry ones.”

Prior to launching Loyal in 2019, Halioua worked on treatments for neurodegenerative diseases in humans – conditions that, much like aging in dogs, have no true preventative medicine.

“This combination of experience sparked my mission to develop the first drug approved for healthy lifespan extension,” she said.

Loyal has a trio of longevity drugs in the works, including two meant to specifically target larger breeds that typically have much shorter lifespans.

Small dogs such as Chihuahuas can live for 18 years or longer, however, giant breeds such as Great Danes don’t typically make it beyond 10.

Enter LOY-001 and LOY-003. These drugs target dogs age seven and older that weigh at least 40 pounds. The drugs work by reducing levels of insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1), which is a hormone that fuels cell growth.

Scientists believe that high levels of IGF-1 shorten the lifespan of large dogs, which can have up to 28 times more of the hormone than smaller breeds.

LOL-001 is an injectable given a few times per year by a vet, while LOY-003 is a daily chewable pill.

Both drugs are in pilot studies and Loyal is looking at conditional FDA approval by 2027.

The company’s third longevity drug, LOY-002, is further along in development and targets senior dogs age 10 and up that weigh at least 14 pounds.

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The drug targets metabolism — the complex system of chemical reactions that powers essential functions like breaking down food, producing energy and repairing cells.

As metabolism slows with age, it can lead to insulin resistance and trigger health issues in both humans and dogs.

“Improving metabolic health is one of the most well-validated pathways for extending both lifespan and healthspan,” Halioua said.

“Research (shows) it can improve health and reduce the risk of age-related diseases across species — from mice to humans,” she added.

Loyal anticipates that the drug will receive conditional approval by the FDA in 2026.

“We’re on track to develop the first-ever FDA-approved drug for longevity — for any species,” Halioua said.

“Dogs share our environments and develop remarkably similar age-related diseases at similar stages of life, making them valuable models for human health and scientific research,” she added.

For more health news and content around diseases, conditions, wellness, healthy living, drugs, treatments and more, head to Healthing.ca – a member of the Postmedia Network.