How to Antiage Your Dog- Could a new pill help dogs (and us) live longer?

Celine Halioua is a dog lover who studied neuroscience and nanobiotechnology. Her thesis is that the short lifespan of big dogs is like "an accelerated aging disorder, an unintended consequence of historical inbreeding for size." In an effort to correct genetic mistakes, Loyal's drug LOY-001 reduces insulin-like growth factor (IGF-1), a biomarker hormone, also present in humans, that drives cell growth and is key to regulating the aging process. The hope is that it will slow down this process to a more sustainable rate, so that big dogs can have more healthy years. The injectable medication would be given by a vet every three to six months, starting at age seven, for dogs 40 pounds and up. Clinical trials are now underway for LOY-002, a daily pill for older dogs of nearly all but the smallest breeds. "Research is ongoing, but we think they will help dogs get at least one extra year of healthy living," Halioua says.

- By Kelly Mickle

There's a recurring thought I had day we brought home our pandemic puppy: "Man, it's gonna suck when you die." I've made peace with this inevitability, but my ears perked up like our German Shepherd's when I heard rumors of a "canine antiaging pill." A biotech company in San Francisco, aptly named Loyal, is running clinical trials for drugs designed to extend a dog's life expectancy.