Retro, a biotech company that is on a mission to increase healthy human lifespan by ten years. Retro is not just another anti-aging company. Retro is a pioneer in the field of aging biology, using cutting-edge science and technology to target the cellular drivers of aging and design therapeutics that can prevent multiple age-related diseases at once.
Retro was founded in 2023 with an initial funding of $180 million, which will take the company to its first proofs of concept and secure its operation through the decade. Retro has assembled a world-class team of scientists, engineers, and entrepreneurs who share a vision of creating a healthier and happier future for humanity.
Retro’s approach is based on identifying aging mechanisms that have shown robust evidence of efficacy in mammals and have a feasible path to translation to humans. Retro’s current pipeline consists of three programs: cellular reprogramming, plasma-inspired therapeutics, and autophagy.
Cellular reprogramming is the process of resetting the epigenetic state of cells to a more youthful state, which can reverse some of the hallmarks of aging and improve tissue regeneration. Retro is working on developing safe and efficient methods of inducing cellular reprogramming in vivo, which could have profound implications for treating chronic diseases and enhancing longevity. Retro expects to achieve a clinical proof-of-concept for this program in four years.
Plasma-inspired therapeutics are based on the observation that plasma (the liquid part of blood) from young animals can have beneficial effects on older animals, such as improving cognition, muscle function, and metabolism. Retro is characterizing and optimizing plasma interventions in both preclinical and clinical settings, with the goal of identifying the key factors that mediate these effects and developing novel therapeutics that can mimic them. Retro expects to have a development candidate for this program in two years.
Autophagy is the process by which cells degrade and recycle their damaged components, which can improve cellular quality and function. Autophagy declines with age, leading to the accumulation of cellular waste and dysfunction. Retro has identified a molecule that can enhance autophagy in various tissues and organs, which could have therapeutic potential for treating diseases such as neurodegeneration, cancer, and metabolic disorders. Retro plans to enter the clinic with this molecule in the next year.
To support these three programs, Retro is investing heavily in single-cell multi-omics, machine-learning-based computational biology, and lab automation. These technologies enable Retro to generate and analyze large amounts of data at high resolution and speed, which can accelerate the discovery and development of novel anti-aging therapeutics.
Retro is not just a company, but a movement. Retro believes that aging is not a fate, but a challenge. A challenge that can be overcome with science and technology. A challenge that can unlock new possibilities for human health and happiness.
If you are interested in learning more about Retro and joining its mission, you can visit their website.
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