The latest longevity updates from our investment news desk.

RegenLife gets €3m for photobiomodulation tech development

Using photobiomodulation technologies to treat neurodegenerative diseases, French medtech RegenLife has raised €3 million in new funding. The company is undertaking two clinical trials on concussions and Alzheimer’s disease.

RegenLife’s triphoton stimulation technology targets the brain-gut axis and is based on the emission of three light sources: red diodes, infrared and lasers. The objective is to regenerate the affected neuronal cell by stimulating its mitochondria. The waves are broadcast through an electronically controlled helmet and abdominal belt.

“The microbiota has a role in brain diseases,” CEO Patrice Cristofini told Les Echos in France. “Each of these three light sources has neither the same wavelengths nor the same frequencies and characteristics. We believe that the combination of the three can have a beneficial effect on patients, for example by making it possible to act 4 or 5 centimeters inside the brain, to correct inflammation.”

Grünenthal gets breakthrough therapy nod for OA drug

German pharma company Grünenthal announced that its investigational non-opioid medicine resiniferatoxin has received Breakthrough Therapy Designation from the US FDA for pain associated with osteoarthritis of the knee. The drug is currently undergoing clinical Phase 3 development, and the decision is based on clinical phase 1 and 2 data indicating significant pain relief and a favorable safety profile.

If approved, resiniferatoxin has the potential to become a meaningful non-opioid treatment option providing long-lasting pain relief and functional improvement of the affected joint, combined with a favorable safety profile.

“Millions of patients suffering from knee osteoarthritis are waiting for additional treatment options. Resiniferatoxin targets one of the most common and severe symptoms of this currently incurable disease: pain,” said Jan Adams, Chief Scientific Officer of Grünenthal. “The decision shows that the FDA considers osteoarthritis a serious disease and shares our assessment of resiniferatoxin’s potential to make a positive impact. We are hopeful that the Breakthrough Therapy Designation will help us to bring this non-opioid therapy option more quickly to patients.”

Form Bio teams up with Google

Computational life sciences platform Form Bio announced it has been selected to help organizations adopt Google Cloud’s Multiomics Suite. Multiomics provides an integrated perspective to power discovery across life sciences research domains.

Google Cloud’s Multiomics Suite accelerates the discovery, integration, and interpretation of data, allowing for increased research efficiency. When combined with the Form Bio platform customers can have even greater robust data management, streamlined workflows, and optimized collaboration approaches.

“Surging interest in bioinformatics and AI is inspiring a wave of life science companies to turn to cloud-based computing,” said Mark Swendsen, Chief Revenue Officer at Form Bio. “Form Bio has a team of industry experts and is built on Google Cloud’s advanced high performance computing, data analytics, and AI technology, putting us ahead of the curve.”

Dyno launches new capsid product

Techbio company Dyno Therapeutics announced the launch of its Dyno bCap 1 capsid product, a breakthrough CNS-targeted AAV gene delivery vector with best-in-class potential. The Dyno bCap 1 vector provides dramatically improved CNS delivery and liver detargeting compared to leading natural capsids and stronger all-around characteristics relative to other engineered CNS-IV capsids.

To create high-performing capsids, Dyno has pioneered the application of state-of-the-art methods in deep learning and generative AI to protein sequence design, while also leveraging large, internally collected in vivo datasets that provide high-resolution insights into the many therapeutically relevant capsid delivery properties. By combining AI and high-throughput biology, Dyno’s platform is capable of more fully exploring the AAV capsid sequence space in search of capsids that are optimized across multiple dimensions, such as CNS targeting, liver detargeting, and production efficiency.

“Safe and effective gene delivery to the brain is a primary factor limiting the treatment of CNS diseases with gene therapy today,” said Adrian Veres, CSO of Dyno. “We believe effective delivery to all cells throughout the brain will unlock the potential to treat patients affected by a variety of genetic diseases, including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Angelman syndrome, Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s disease.”

Lineage Cell to be listed on Russell 3000 Index

Cell therapy company Lineage Cell Therapeutics, Inc. (NYSE American and TASE: LCTX) announced that it expects to be added to the broad-market Russell 3000 Index. Annual Russell indexes reconstitution captures the largest US stocks, ranking them by total market capitalization. Membership in the US all-cap Russell 3000 Index, which remains in place for one year following reconstitution, means automatic inclusion in the large-cap Russell 1000 Index or small-cap Russell 2000 Index as well as the appropriate growth and value style indexes.

“We are pleased that Lineage is expected to be added into the Russell 3000 Index next month. Our inclusion among larger market cap companies should help to expand investor awareness, increase institutional ownership, and provide additional liquidity in our stock,” said Brian M Culley, CEO of Lineage. “This recognition of our progress comes during an exciting time, as our partners Roche and Genentech enroll patients in a Phase 2a clinical trial of OpRegen for the treatment of dry age-related macular degeneration, as we prepare for further clinical testing of our OPC1 treatment for spinal cord injury, and as we advance our other treatments for cancer, hearing loss, and vision loss. Overall, we believe a deeper understanding of Lineage’s strategic objectives can help increase support for our novel and exciting approach to cell transplant medicine.”

BioAge appoints strategy head

Longevity biotech BioAge Labs announced the appointment of BJ Sullivan as Chief Strategy Officer. Sullivan previously served as Chief of Staff and Vice President, Strategy & Business Operations at BioAge. In that capacity, he partnered closely with the executive team to define both corporate and program strategy.

“We are at the beginning of a reimagination of healthcare in an aging world, with focus shifting from managing illness to optimizing healthspan,” said Sullivan. “BioAge’s human-first platform provides unique visibility into aging biology, enabling us to decode and target the pathways that drive the most devastating aspects of aging, including loss of brain, muscle, and immune function. It is a privilege to support BioAge in navigating the many opportunities that emerge as we pioneer the first aging-focused therapeutics. I am eager to continue collaborating with Kristen and the whole BioAge team to advance our pipeline and create transformative medicines to redefine the experience of growing older.”

Rejuvenate Bio reveals promising canine data

Age reversal gene therapy company Rejuvenate Bio announced new data for its gene therapy RJB-01 from a pilot study in canines with myxomatous mitral valve disease (MMVD). A common disease in dogs, MMVD is when the heart valve becomes thickened as a dog ages, causing leakage at the valve that eventually leads to heart failure. The purpose of the study is to determine whether RJB-01 can help delay the progression of this disease.

Twelve Cavalier King Charles Spaniels administered RJB-01 and pimobendan (the current best in class medication to treat dogs with congestive heart failure) experienced a delay in progression of over 1.5 years when compared with the standard of care. When compared to a historical control of pimobendan alone in all breeds, dogs treated with RJB-01 and pimobendan saw an increase in time to progression of ~600 days, and over 800 days compared to placebo.

“Mitral valve disease is often fatal for canines at the advanced stage, with no current treatments that can provide a cure,” said Noah Davidsohn, Chief Scientific Officer at Rejuvenate Bio. “The disease is caused by a malfunction of the mitral valve, which causes congestive heart failure. The current standard of care is Vetmedin (pimobendan), paired with ACE inhibitors, but this only treats symptoms and does not address the underlying disease.”

Ani Biome teams up with Deep Longevity

Metabolites-as-medicine company Ani Biome announced a partnership with Deep Longevity, a leading provider of aging clocks. The collaboration will leverage Deep Longevity’s Blood Age and Mind Age clock APIs to develop gut health-management tools that will help drive longevity, avoid diseases and manage stress.

Blood Age is an aging clock that uses AI to analyze simple blood test data and accurately measure an individual’s biological age – the platform can also recommend improving health and longevity.  Mind Age is a psychological assessment framework that relies on a proprietary questionnaire to calculate the psychological age of an individual. Measuring and improving Mind Age, and taking a proactive approach to handling mental health, improves motivation, productivity and eventually lifespan.

Elevated levels of both blood age and psychological age have been linked to accelerated aging, leading to increased risks of chronic diseases, morbidity and a shorter lifespan. Ani Biome aims to mitigate these health risks through its extensive research on AgeBiotics and micro drink supplements. The collaboration with Deep Longevity will provide Ani Biome with data-driven and evidence-backed technology that it can leverage to further its goal of improving longevity.