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Pioneering Treatment for Extending Lifespan in Large Dogs

A new drug, LOY-001, is in development to extend the lifespan of large and giant breed dogs by modulating Insulin-like Growth Factor (IGF-1), a key factor in aging.

Author

Thom Hart
December 16, 2023

Daily Longevity Tip: Pioneering Treatment for Extending Lifespan in Large Dogs

Tip Summary: A new drug, LOY-001, is in development to extend the lifespan of large and giant breed dogs by modulating Insulin-like Growth Factor (IGF-1), a key factor in aging.

Hey Dog Longevity friends! Today, we're exploring an exciting breakthrough in canine longevity, particularly for our larger fur-babies. While the company that we’re building within the Dog Longevity community is focused maintaining high NAD+ levels, Loyal, a biotech company, is developing LOY-001, a drug aimed at enhancing the quality and length of life in large breed dogs. Let's dive into how this drug works, who it's for, and what it means for dog parents:

Mechanism Overview:

  • LOY-001 targets Insulin-like Growth Factor 1 (IGF-1), which is significantly higher in large dogs compared to smaller breeds.

  • IGF-1 is associated with faster aging and a shorter lifespan. By reducing IGF-1 levels, LOY-001 aims to slow down aging in large dogs.

Treatment Insights:

  • The FDA's Reasonable Expectation of Effectiveness approval is a major milestone, indicating the drug's potential efficacy.

  • LOY-001 is expected to be available by 2026, offering a new approach to extending canine life expectancy.

Key Takeaways for Dog Parents:

  • The drug is specifically designed for older (than 7 years), large breeds like Rottweilers, Great Danes, and Bernese Mountain Dogs, which have naturally shorter lifespans.

  • Loyal anticipates that it will extend lifespan by at least a year, or around 10% of the average large breed life-expectancy.

  • While LOY-001 is not yet on the market, it represents a significant advancement in veterinary medicine.

  • A win for the Dog Longevity movement: the notion of extending our dog’s lives, rather than only treating illness, will help to shine light on the idea, hopefully encouraging new solutions for life extension.

Sources: DVM360, Dailymail

Announcement: We’ll be doing a (free) weekly Facebook Live longevity discussion + Q&A with Dr. Helen Stortz, DVM, today, Saturday, 16 December at 5PM EST. This will be held in the Dog Longevity Facebook community. The link to join the community is below:

Want specific content? Reply to the email and let me know what you’d like more of, and I’ll make sure to cover it!