At the Longevity Summit Dublin 2024, Sebastian Brunemeier, co-founder of ImmuneAge Bio and a leader in longevity biotech, presented his vision for translating research on immune system rejuvenation into clinical applications. His talk covered the broader investment landscape for longevity biotech, the challenges in traditional pharmaceutical R&D, and promising interventions like bone marrow rejuvenation. Brunemeier’s work is paving the way for innovative therapies to extend healthy lifespan and address the demographic challenges of ageing.

Key Points:

• Longevity Biotech as the Future of Medicine: Sebastian Brunemeier introduced the concept of "long bio," aiming to popularize longevity biotechnology as a transformative field akin to the rise of synthetic biology. He emphasized how longevity biotech seeks to extend healthy human lifespan through innovative medical interventions.
• Healthspan Capital and Longevity Investments: Brunemeier discussed his role at Healthspan Capital, an investment firm focused on longevity biotech. The firm has backed over 30 projects in two years, helping to drive the development of treatments aimed at delaying or reversing the ageing process.
• R&D Decline in Traditional Pharma: He highlighted the inefficiency of traditional pharmaceutical research and development, where costs are rising without corresponding breakthroughs. In contrast, longevity biotech offers a promising avenue by focusing on geroprotective interventions and addressing the root causes of ageing.
• Rejuvenation of the Immune System: Brunemeier shared insights from ImmuneAge Bio, a company he leads that is developing therapies to rejuvenate the immune system. This includes bone marrow rejuvenation, a technique that involves expanding and enhancing hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) to improve immune function.
• Bone Marrow Rejuvenation: He emphasized the success of young-to-old bone marrow transplants, which have extended lifespan by up to 30% in animal models. This approach to rejuvenating immune cells holds promise for combating age-related diseases and improving overall healthspan.
• Long-Term Vision for Longevity: The ultimate goal of longevity biotech, as articulated by Brunemeier, is to develop treatments that can gradually replace the immune system and extend healthspan. His company is also focused on advancing therapies that improve vaccine response in the elderly and prevent age-related conditions like dementia and cardiovascular diseases.