Retro Biosciences, backed by OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, aims to extend human lifespan by 10 years through groundbreaking stem cell therapies. The startup is leveraging recent breakthroughs in blood stem cell science to provide personalized treatments for blood diseases.
Retro Biosciences, a longevity-focused startup backed by OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, aims to extend human lifespan by 10 years through groundbreaking medical research. By leveraging recent breakthroughs in blood stem cell science from Australia‘s Murdoch Children’s Research Institute (MCRI), Retro Biosciences is on its way to providing personalized, patient-specific blood stem cells to treat children and adults with blood diseases.
The Science Behind the Breakthrough
In a major step forward last year, MCRI researchers successfully generated blood stem cells from human cells, a breakthrough that could one day produce perfect cell matches for patients in need of blood stem cell or bone marrow transplants. This discovery has significant implications for Retro Biosciences’ mission to advance regenerative anti-aging therapies.
Blood stem cells are undifferentiated cells that have the ability to develop into various types of blood cells, including red blood cells, 'various types' , and platelets.
These cells play a crucial role in the production of new blood cells, replacing old or damaged ones.
In adults, blood stem cells are primarily found in the bone marrow, where they undergo self-renewal and differentiation to produce new blood cells.
Research has shown that umbilical cord blood is also a rich source of stem cells, which can be used for transplantation purposes.
Aiming to Advance Clinical Trials
Retro Biosciences is now licensing MCRI’s research to create new therapies for blood disorders such as leukemia and bone marrow failure. The goal is to advance the work to first-in-human clinical trials within five years. Elizabeth Ng, an associate professor at MCRI whose team led the discovery, stated that ‘By joining forces with Retro Biosciences, we are now on our way to providing personalized, patient-specific blood stem cells to treat children and adults with blood diseases.‘
A Decade of Longevity
Retro Biosciences’ bold aim to turn back the biological clock by a decade has caught the attention of Altman, who initially invested $180 million in the startup. The company is now seeking to raise an additional $1 billion from Altman, along with support from family offices, venture capital firms, and sovereign wealth funds.
A New Era for Longevity Startups
Retro Biosciences’ success has drawn attention to the growing trend of longevity startups in Silicon Valley, drawing investments from billionaires like Jeff Bezos, who has backed Altos Labs, a biotech firm focused on restoring cell health. Other notable players include Unity Biotechnology, which targets age-related diseases, and NewLimit, launched by Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong in 2021 to reprogram human genes for longevity.
A Shared Vision
Retro Biosciences’ CEO Joe Betts-LaCroix stated that ‘We immediately saw the potential for sustaining a healthy blood system into late life.‘ The company’s work on brain cell regeneration and developing an Alzheimer’s treatment is also expected to enter early-stage trials in Australia later this year. With Altman’s involvement running deep, Retro Biosciences is poised to make significant strides in the field of longevity.
