Getting up there in age can be ruff — but these new tricks might keep old dogs alive a little longer.
Man’s best friend may be the next anti-aging influencer as a first-of-its-kind longevity drug — injections intended to extend the lifespan of the large breed, four-legged fur balls — is poised for mass unleashing.
Paws for applause!
Loyal, a San Francisco-based biotech company, announced Tuesday that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted its jabs, known as LOY-001, a conditional approval.
The provisional green light from federal regulators means officials have determined that the drug presents a reasonable expectation of effectiveness in augmenting a pup’s life expectancy. However, a series of complex studies are required to complete the collection of definitive efficacy data and to meet the FDA’s manufacturing and safety criteria.
But the small win has hopeful hound-lovers howling for joy.
“This milestone is the result of years of careful work by the team,” said Loyal CEO Celine Halioua in the announcement. “We’ll continue to work just as diligently to bring this and our other longevity programs through to FDA approval.”
Once granted the official green light, dogs over age 7 and weighing more than 40 pounds may be eligible for the LOY-001 shots, which are expected to be administered by their veterinarians every three to six months.
Loyal hopes to roll out the drug in 2026.
“Large- and giant-breed dogs may have as little as half the expected lifespan of small breeds,” noted the company in its release.
“Selectively breeding dogs for size is understood to cause elevated levels of the growth-promoting hormone IGF-1, and this is believed to reduce their lifespan,” continued the statement. “Large dogs have up to 28 times the levels of IGF-1 as small dogs.”
“LOY-001 works by reducing IGF-1 in adult dogs to increase lifespan.”
Attempts at adding years to a tail-wager life have become wildly popular amongst pet people in recent months.
While some barker buffs suggest plying a pooch with an eye-dropper full of red wine to keep them ticking, others advise subjecting older bowsers to routine health screenings for deadly disorders such as “doggy dementia.”
And Loyal’s could-be miracle drug might not only slow down the clock and beef up the quality of life in dogs — it may also have a similar effect on humans.
“Classically, drugs are developed for diseases,” Halioua explained to Business Insider. “What the longevity field is trying to do is target the way we age holistically.”
Halioua, too, noted that researchers ultimately hope to “extend out those healthy middle years,” in both pets and their aging owners.
https://nypost.com/2023/11/28/lifestyle/theres-an-anti-aging-drug-for-dogs-now/
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