A medication designed to prolong the lives of large dogs could hit the market in the next few years, according to Loyal, a San Francisco-based biotechnology company developing longevity treatments for canines.
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The Center for Veterinary Medicine of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) found a reasonable expectation of efficacy for the medication, codenamed LOY-001, a significant step toward its full approval, according to a press release from Loyal on Tuesday.
If any of the drugs prove effective in dogs, they may also be tested in humans, which is an ultimate goal for Celine Halioua, the founder of Loyal. Dogs serve as an excellent model for studying human aging and any drugs that can slow or reverse it.
The development is “a first for any longevity drug, and is a big step towards accelerating the path for canines, and ultimately humans,” stated Vinod Khosla, founder of Khosla Ventures, an investor in Loyal.
Designed to lower levels of a growth-promoting hormone that can shorten the lifespan of large and giant dog breeds, the medication would be administered by a veterinarian every three to six months and is expected to be available by 2026, depending on FDA approval.
