2021 was a fast-paced year for the longevity clinical trials market – we crunch the numbers to find out what’s what.
2021 demonstrated that research into antiaging therapies is going from strength-to-strength, and our review of longevity clinical trials shows this clearly. As different areas of research continue to gain traction (cellular reprogramming, in particular), we wanted to analyse exactly how the longevity clinical trial market performed last year.
In order to assess clinical trial data across 2021, we interrogated the Longevity.Technology database, which consists of over 250 longevity companies (and growing all the time!). This was used to assess new progress made across the year, throughout the clinical trial market, in addition to progress made in different segments of the longevity sector.
We then compiled data from PubMed to gain an overview of the frequency of publications and trials in 2021 in comparison with 2011. This data was input into a table to compare the increase in both “longevity” related studies in 2011 and 2021. Finally, to display drug target clinical trial progression across 2021, we spotlighted 12 companies and used data from the Longevity.Technology database to give insights into progress in longevity therapeutics.
2021 clinical trial progress
Across the globe we are seeing an uptick in longevity research, PubMed stats reveal a steady increase in longevity related published papers over the past 10 years rising to 3975 papers published in 2020. By November 2021, this number had reached 3991, and so has continued this steady rise. While age related research is becoming a global issue, most longevity clinical trials are being conducted in the US, which currently accounts for 49% of analysed companies.
“Longevity” published papers
Longevity clinical trials of 2021, by aging hallmark
Using our Longevity.Technology database, there were 13 longevity trials, conducted by longevity companies, that completed trial phases in 2021. The hallmarks of aging underlying the technologies are shown above. Mitochondrial dysfunction had the largest percentage of trials with 38% of the total trials in 2021.
The chart above demonstrates the breakdown of phase completed by hallmark. 40% of the companies with mitochondrial dysfunction underlying their technologies completed a phase 3 trial. The indications in each trial are presented below.
Later this week, we’ll be spotlighting the 12 companies who progressed their therapeutics throughout 2021 and contributed to last year’s drive in age-related research – stay tuned!
