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A growing race to unlock the secret of eternal youth has seen British biotech companies push forward in the longevity science field, hoping to extend human life by preventing the effects of ageing. A decade ago, researchers led by Professor Janet Lord at Birmingham University examined the health of older amateur cyclists, revealing some surprising results about ageing. Their study showed that regular exercise could prevent common age-related issues such as muscle loss, fat accumulation, and thymus gland shrinkage, which affects immune function. Lord and her team continue to monitor the cyclists to better understand the exercise needed to reap these benefits.
This research is part of a larger trend in the UK, which is emerging as a global leader in ageing science. British biotech firms like Senisca, Genflow Biosciences, and Shift Bioscience are exploring innovative ways to combat ageing at the cellular level. For instance, Senisca aims to restore cellular gene expression to rejuvenate aged cells, while Shift is using machine learning and genetic tools to develop treatments based on cellular reprogramming. However, while the UK excels in scientific output, it struggles to translate these breakthroughs into real-world treatments due to a lack of venture capital and entrepreneurial support, a challenge highlighted by Lorna Harries, a molecular genetics professor and Senisca co-founder.
Meanwhile, in the U.S., wealthy tech entrepreneurs—nicknamed “buff billionaires”—are heavily investing in longevity companies. Jeff Bezos backs Altos Labs, which is focused on cellular reprogramming, while other investors, such as PayPal’s Peter Thiel and OpenAI’s Sam Altman, support companies like Unity Biotechnology and Retro Biosciences, both working to combat ageing through senescent cell elimination and reprogramming. As these startups race to develop therapies that can reverse or slow the ageing process, experts like Professor Lynne Cox from the University of Oxford highlight the growing recognition that ageing is driven by cellular damage and inflammation, suggesting the future of healthcare may focus on treating the root causes of ageing diseases.
While the UK leads in ageing research, experts like Cox and Lord argue that more investment and support are needed to turn these ground-breaking studies into clinical applications, allowing the UK to become a key player in the billion-dollar longevity industry. The push for longevity treatments is not just about adding years to life, but also improving quality of life by addressing the fundamental biological processes of ageing.
