In this episode of Levity, hosts explore the unconventional mission of Felix Werth, a German biochemist, entrepreneur, and political activist who founded Germany’s Party for Rejuvenation Research. The discussion traces Werth’s transformation from a fearful child fascinated by cryonics into a political advocate determined to end aging.

Key Points:

Felix Werth is spearheading a political and scientific crusade to defeat aging. From founding a longevity-focused political party to building an AI-driven biotech startup, he envisions indefinite health through science. The episode captures both the passion and obstacles of turning the dream of agelessness into a political and cultural movement.

• From Death Anxiety to Activism: Werth’s lifelong fear of death led him to study biochemistry and dedicate his career to combating aging after discovering Aubrey de Grey’s damage repair approach.
• Creating a Longevity Movement: In 2015, Werth founded the Party for Health Research (later rebranded as the Party for Rejuvenation Research), aiming to push governments to invest more in longevity science.
• Political Strategy and Public Perception: The party initially emphasized “healthspan” but later shifted to bold messaging about radical life extension—such as “Where do you want to live in 800 years?”—to gain media traction.
• Challenges and Resistance: Despite creative campaigns and viral posters, public skepticism, limited donations, and emotional burnout slowed progress. Werth noted that most people avoid thinking about death and aging.
• Entrepreneurial Shift: Moving beyond politics, Werth now leads Fix Aging AI, a biotech startup using artificial intelligence to design enzymes that repair cellular damage and promote rejuvenation.
• Harnessing AI for Longevity: Werth participated in the Hack Aging AI contest, developing tools to link gene sequence changes to longevity-related functions—highlighting AI’s growing role in anti-aging science.
• Vision for the Future: He advocates for an “Apollo Project” against aging, arguing that only large-scale investment and cultural change can make radical life extension a reality.