Meet the Founders: The Brains Behind the Fountain of Youth

Life Biosciences was co-founded in 2017 by Dr. David Sinclair and Tristan Edwards. Dr. Sinclair is a professor in the Department of Genetics at Harvard Medical School, renowned for his research on aging and longevity. He has published over 200 scientific papers and co-invented more than 50 patents. His work has earned him numerous accolades, including being named one of TIME magazine’s “100 most influential people in the world.” (Dr. David Sinclair)

Tristan Edwards, the co-founder of Life Biosciences, is also the co-founder and CEO of Entheos Labs, a Boston-based biotech company created within Massachusetts General Hospital. Entheos Labs focuses on treating mental health disorders and exploring broader questions around human consciousness using psychedelic compounds. Before venturing into biotechnology, Edwards had a 16-year investment career in global financial markets, holding senior roles at institutions such as Goldman Sachs, Brevan Howard, Trafalgar Capital, and Mosaic Asset Management. He began his career as an analyst with the Australian Commonwealth Department of Finance. (Tristan Edwards)

The founding of Life Biosciences was driven by a shared vision between Dr. Sinclair and Edwards to address the challenges of aging through innovative scientific approaches. Combining Dr. Sinclair’s extensive research background with Edwards’ financial and operational expertise, they established the company to pioneer cellular rejuvenation therapies aimed at reversing and preventing multiple diseases associated with aging.

The Billion-Dollar Cell Therapy Market: Aging Like Fine Wine

The cell therapy market is experiencing significant growth, driven by advancements in regenerative medicine and increasing investment in research and development. In 2023, the global cell therapy market was valued at approximately USD 4.74 billion. Projections indicate that this market will expand at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 22.66% from 2024 to 2030, reaching an estimated USD 20.07 billion by 2030. (Grandview Research)

This robust growth is attributed to several factors. The rising prevalence of chronic diseases, such as cancer and cardiovascular disorders, has increased the demand for innovative treatments. Cell therapies offer promising solutions by utilizing living cells to repair or replace damaged tissues and organs. Additionally, technological advancements in gene editing tools, like CRISPR-Cas9, have enhanced the precision and efficacy of cell-based treatments, further propelling market expansion.

Geographically, North America dominates the cell therapy market, accounting for approximately 59% of the global revenue share in 2024. This leadership is due to substantial investments in healthcare infrastructure, a strong focus on research and development, and the presence of key industry players in the region. The U.S. cell therapy market alone was valued at USD 2.66 billion in 2023 and is anticipated to grow at a CAGR of 21.18% from 2024 to 2030, reaching USD 10.34 billion by 2030. (Grandview Research)

In terms of therapy types, autologous therapies, which use a patient’s own cells, held a significant market share of 92% in 2024. However, allogeneic therapies, involving donor cells, are expected to experience substantial growth due to their scalability and potential to treat a larger patient population.

Live Long and Prosper – The Business of Longevity

Life Biosciences is dedicated to reversing and preventing age-related diseases, aiming to improve the quality of life as people age. The company focuses on developing therapies that target the fundamental biological mechanisms of aging, challenging the traditional view of aging as inevitable decline.

The company addresses a significant global health challenge: the rising prevalence of chronic illnesses among the aging population. Statistics show that 80% of individuals over 60 have at least one chronic illness, and 50% have two or more. Additionally, 30% of people aged 65 or older in OECD countries require assistance with daily activities. By targeting the root causes of aging, Life Biosciences aims to reduce the incidence of these diseases, thereby enhancing healthspan—the period of life spent in good health.

Life Biosciences employs a platform-based business model to develop therapeutics that can reverse and prevent multiple age-related conditions. This approach is built on groundbreaking science from world-class researchers and involves exclusive licenses with leading academic institutions. The company’s platforms are underpinned by strong composition-of-matter and method-of-use patents, ensuring a robust foundation for their therapeutic developments.

Old News? Not Anymore! The Future of Anti-Aging Tech

Life Biosciences is pioneering the development of cellular rejuvenation therapies aimed at reversing and preventing multiple age-related diseases. Their primary focus is on a novel approach called partial epigenetic reprogramming, which seeks to restore aged cells to a more youthful state, thereby improving cellular function and addressing various conditions associated with aging.

Partial Epigenetic Reprogramming Platform

The foundation of Life Biosciences’ therapeutic strategy is their partial epigenetic reprogramming platform. This platform builds upon the groundbreaking research of Nobel laureate Shinya Yamanaka, who identified specific transcription factors capable of reverting adult cells to a pluripotent state. Life Biosciences has refined this concept to partially reprogram the epigenome of aged and injured cells, aiming to restore their function without inducing a complete loss of cellular identity. This method holds promise for treating a wide range of age-related diseases by rejuvenating cells and tissues.

Lead Therapeutic Candidate: ER-100

Life Biosciences’ leading therapeutic candidate, ER-100, is a gene therapy designed to address specific optic neuropathies. ER-100 utilizes the company’s partial epigenetic reprogramming approach to target conditions such as non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION) and primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG). By rejuvenating retinal ganglion cells, ER-100 aims to restore visual function lost due to these diseases. The company has reported promising preclinical results, including the restoration of visual function in non-human primate models. Plans are underway to initiate human clinical trials to further assess the safety and efficacy of ER-100 in patients suffering from these debilitating eye conditions.

Research and Development Pipeline

Beyond ER-100, Life Biosciences is actively expanding its research and development pipeline to explore the application of partial epigenetic reprogramming in other age-related diseases. The company is investigating potential therapies for conditions such as neurodegenerative disorders, cardiovascular diseases, and metabolic syndromes. By targeting the fundamental mechanisms of aging, Life Biosciences aims to develop treatments that not only address the symptoms of these diseases but also modify their underlying causes, thereby offering more durable and comprehensive therapeutic solutions.

Collaborations and Scientific Foundations

Life Biosciences’ platforms are grounded in collaborations with world-class researchers and exclusive licenses with leading academic institutions. These partnerships provide a strong scientific foundation for the company’s therapeutic developments, ensuring that their approaches are based on cutting-edge research and robust intellectual property. By leveraging these collaborations, Life Biosciences is well-positioned to translate scientific discoveries into practical treatments that can significantly impact the healthspan and quality of life of aging individuals. 

Breakthroughs That Make You Say ‘You’ve Got to Be Kidding Me(tabolism)

Life Biosciences is transforming the field of aging therapeutics by targeting the fundamental biological mechanisms that drive age-related diseases. The company’s innovative approach focuses on epigenetic reprogramming, specifically using transcription factors to restore aged cells to a more youthful and functional state. This strategy is based on cutting-edge research that identifies aging as a modifiable biological process rather than an irreversible decline.

As people age, their DNA accumulates epigenetic markers called methyl groups, which alter gene expression and can contribute to disease. These changes can be influenced by lifestyle, environmental factors, or the natural aging process. Life Biosciences’ therapeutic approach directly targets these epigenetic modifications, aiming to reverse them and, in turn, mitigate multiple age-related diseases. Their method involves utilizing three key transcription factors—Oct-4, Sox-2, and Klf-4 (collectively known as OSK)—which have been shown to reset the epigenome, restoring cellular function and tissue health.

Their lead therapeutic candidate, ER-100, employs this partial epigenetic reprogramming method. ER-100 is a gene therapy delivered via an adeno-associated virus (AAV2-OSK) vector designed to rejuvenate cells in the optic nerve and retina. This therapy has shown remarkable promise in preclinical studies. In mice, ER-100 enhanced nerve regeneration following optic nerve crush injury, restored vision in a glaucoma model, and significantly improved visual function in naturally aged mice. In non-human primate (NHP) models, ER-100 also restored vision and improved nerve axon survival in cases of non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION). These results have been recognized as groundbreaking in the field of ophthalmology.

Beyond ER-100, Life Biosciences is investigating additional applications of partial epigenetic reprogramming in various age-related diseases. By targeting the core mechanisms of aging, their approach holds potential for treating neurodegenerative diseases, metabolic disorders, and cardiovascular conditions. The company continues to refine and expand its technology, ensuring that its therapies not only alleviate symptoms but also address the root causes of aging-related diseases.

Through a combination of epigenetic reprogramming, advanced gene therapy delivery systems, and a focus on cellular rejuvenation, Life Biosciences is pushing the boundaries of modern medicine. Their work promises to redefine how aging-related conditions are treated, with the ultimate goal of extending the healthy lifespan of individuals worldwide.

From Lab to Life: Bringing Age-Reversal to the Masses

The company’s emphasis on partial epigenetic reprogramming has the potential to revolutionize treatments for age-related diseases. In May 2023, the two companies announced a collaboration wherein Forge Biologics will provide current Good Manufacturing Practice (cGMP) manufacturing and development services for Life Biosciences’ novel adeno-associated virus (AAV) gene therapy platform. This partnership focuses on addressing aging-related diseases, including ophthalmic indications. (Forge Biologics)

Through this partnership, Forge Biologics will offer comprehensive services encompassing AAV process development, toxicology studies, cGMP manufacturing, and analytical support. The manufacturing process will utilize Forge’s proprietary platform processes, including their HEK293 suspension Ignition Cells™ and pEMBR™ adenovirus helper plasmid. All development and manufacturing activities are slated to occur at Forge’s 200,000-square-foot gene therapy facility, known as the Hearth, located in Columbus, Ohio.

This partnership with Forge Biologics exemplifies Life Biosciences’ commitment to leveraging external expertise to accelerate the development of its innovative therapies. By collaborating with specialized organizations, Life Biosciences aims to efficiently advance its therapeutic candidates through the development pipeline, ultimately bringing novel treatments for aging-related diseases to patients in need.

Live Long and Prosper – The Business of Longevity

Life Biosciences has raised a total of $150 million in equity funding across three funding rounds. The company has received strong backing from thirteen institutional investors. The most recent and largest funding round was a Series C round on January 6, 2022, where Life Biosciences raised $82 million. (Tracxn)

This round was led by Alpha Wave Global and The Longevity Fund, two firms known for investing in cutting-edge biotechnology and longevity-related research. The Series C funding helped the company expand its research and development efforts, accelerate its clinical programs, and scale up operations to bring its therapies closer to human trials.

Before the Series C, Life Biosciences secured $18.2 million in a Series B round on June 12, 2020. While specific investors for this round were not disclosed, it marked an important step in the company’s growth and helped fund critical advancements in its technology. An earlier Series B round on December 31, 2018, raised $50 million, further solidifying investor confidence in Life Biosciences’ approach to tackling the biological causes of aging.

Time Waits for No One—But Life Biosciences is Trying

Life Biosciences is revolutionizing the way we treat aging by targeting its biological root causes. Instead of treating individual diseases separately, the company focuses on partial epigenetic reprogramming, a method that can restore aged cells to a younger, healthier state. This approach has the potential to prevent, slow, or even reverse multiple age-related diseases at once.

The company’s lead therapy, ER-100, is a gene therapy that uses three key transcription factors—Oct-4, Sox-2, and Klf-4 (OSK) to reset the epigenome. This therapy has successfully restored vision in preclinical models for conditions like glaucoma and optic nerve injuries. Unlike conventional treatments that only manage symptoms, ER-100 repairs damaged cells at a genetic level.

Beyond ER-100, Life Biosciences is expanding its research pipeline. The company is exploring applications of its technology in treating neurodegenerative disorders, cardiovascular diseases, and metabolic conditions. With aging as the biggest risk factor for most chronic illnesses, Life Biosciences’ approach has the potential to change the future of medicine.

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