A breakthrough in the development of an anti-aging medication for dogs brings it one step closer to being available in veterinary clinics, following its recent approval by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
On Tuesday, Loyal for Dogs announced that its first-of-its-kind longevity drug received the first of three green lights needed for FDA approval. The decision, made in early November, is essentially a vote of confidence from federal regulators that this drug should actually work to extend dogs’ lifespans, based on evidence so far.
Loyal’s latest medication, named LOY-001, is an injectable designed for dogs aged seven years and older, weighing at least 40 pounds. It is administered at their veterinarian’s office approximately every three to six months.
The objective? Enhance the duration of healthy living for pets, at a reasonably affordable monthly cost in the “mid double digits,” as indicated by Loyal’s CEO and founder, Celine Halioua. Halioua envisions that the drug, targeting the deceleration of significant dog aging factors, may hit the market by 2026.
However, should the FDA grant successful approval to this anti-aging drug, it could mark a pivotal moment not just for pet owners but also for aging humans. This marks the initial indication from US regulators that they might be poised to support longevity drugs.
“Classically, drugs are developed for diseases,” Halioua explained. “What the longevity field is trying to do is target the ways we age holistically.”
Rather than targeting individual diseases, the novel drugs being developed by Loyal (and other biotech companies) for longevity aim to prolong the period during which both dogs and humans can reasonably anticipate living in good health.
“Extend out those healthy middle years,” as Halioua put it.
Numerous longevity trials are currently underway, involving both dogs and humans, exploring the potential of both new and existing drugs that aging scientists believe could contribute to slowing down the aging process. While no drug has been approved to counteract aging thus far, many experts remain optimistic that a breakthrough in the field might be imminent.