The funding will support clinical trials for three experimental drugs, including a promising treatment for Alzheimer’s disease, set to begin early-stage trials in Australia this year. Among the backers is OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, who initially seeded the company with $180 million. Italian financier Sandro Salsano leads the latest round and has joined Retro’s board.
Retro Biosciences CEO Joe Betts-LaCroix described the company’s mission as a bid to “reduce human misery.” In an interview with the Financial Times, he noted, “If someone gets Alzheimer’s, it doesn’t matter how much money they have—nobody knows how to cure it.”
Retro isn’t the only biotech startup chasing the dream of extended lifespans. Tech billionaires like Jeff Bezos (Alto Labs) and Peter Thiel (Methuselah Foundation) have also invested heavily in anti-aging efforts. Meanwhile, AI-focused Isomorphic Labs announced plans to bring an AI-designed drug to trials by the end of this year.
Retro Biosciences integrates AI-driven protein design to turn regular cells into stem cells, which the company believes could reverse aging. The company is reportedly in talks with venture capitalists, sovereign wealth funds, and a major US data center to scale its AI models.
The company’s drug pipeline targets Alzheimer’s and other age-related conditions. One experimental therapy aims to restore a cell’s internal recycling process, potentially halting neurodegeneration. Another focuses on rejuvenating brain cells by replacing microglia, while a third replaces aging blood stem cells with younger ones to refresh the body’s circulatory system.
“If you’re 85 years old and undergo this therapy, you can replace your blood stem cells with ones that are zero age,” Betts-LaCroix explained, emphasizing how this could profoundly impact overall health.
Betts-LaCroix is adamant about delivering results within the decade. “The line we’re drawing in the sand is, damn it, we’re going to have our first drug out in the 2020s,” he declared.
With bold ambitions, cutting-edge AI, and a growing pool of resources, Retro Biosciences is positioning itself as a leader in the quest to extend not just life expectancy but the number of healthy, vibrant years people can enjoy.
