Key Points:
- LOY-001 is an anti-aging drug designed to help large-breed dogs, such as Rottweilers, Great Danes, and Bernese Mountain dogs, live at least one year longer.
- Loyal, the company that developed LOY-001, hopes to have conditional FDA approval by 2026, but full approval will require a large clinical trial and the review of safety and manufacturing data.
Man’s best friend. Closest companion. Partner in crime.
When it comes to expressing the affection that people have for their dogs, the list of words and phrases could go on and on!
It is clear that we have a deep affection for our canine companions. The pet industry is a market worth hundreds of billions of dollars, and nearly every other home in the United States has a dog (44.5% of households).
However, in a circumstance that may appear to be cruel, these “fur babies” only live a fraction of the time that we do. So, you would not be the first person to wish that your dog could experience a longer life span.
As a matter of fact, there are researchers who are working on this issue with the intention of developing medications that will assist in extending the lifespan of dogs. These are not merely supplements or foods; rather, they are actual pharmaceuticals that are being evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the most influential medical regulatory body in the United States, in the same manner that it would evaluate any drug intended to treat human cancer or heart disease (or possibly even aging).
Loyal, a company based out of San Francisco, is responsible for the dog lifespan extension drug that is currently in the most advanced stage of the FDA approval process. In November 2023, the Center for Veterinary Medicine at the FDA indicated that the data, results, and scientific arguments provided by Loyal provide a reasonable expectation of the drug’s effectiveness to extend canine lifespan and healthspan (the amount of years lived in good health and without disease).
This significant achievement is an essential component of Loyal’s application for conditional approval of the drug, which is recognized by the designation LOY-001 at the present time. It indicates that Loyal will be able to market the drug for the purpose of extending the lifespan of the target canine population once the FDA has given its approval to the manufacturing and safety data packages that Loyal has developed. Conditional approval can be granted for a period of up to five years, during which time Loyal will evaluate the effectiveness data that is still available and submit an application for full approval.
Here is everything you need to know about LOY-001:
1. Is the drug intended for all dogs?
LOY-001 is a product that has been developed especially for large adult dogs. To be more specific, LOY-001 is intended for dogs that are over seven years old and weigh forty pounds.
Generally speaking, dogs as a species live for ten to thirteen years, but the lifespan of a dog can vary depending on factors such as breed, diet, lifestyle, and other aspects of their life. Particularly noteworthy is the fact that their lifespan decreases in proportion to their size—the bigger they are, the shorter they live. Pomeranians, who often live between 12 and 16 years, can live twice as long as Great Danes (8 and 10 years).
2. Is the medication available as a pill?
Once every three to six months, a veterinarian would give dogs LOY-001, which is an injectable medication with a long-acting effect, on a regular basis.
3. Do dogs experience any side effects?
According to the findings of the studies that have been conducted up until this point, LOY-001 may cause dogs to experience mild and temporary gastrointestinal distress.
4. When is the medication going to be available?
LOY-001 is expected to receive conditional approval from the FDA by the year 2026, according to Loyal.
5. How does LOY-001 work?
According to the manufacturer, the drug is effective because it interacts with insulin-like growth factor-1, also known as IGF-1. IGF-1 is a protein that helps with muscle growth and metabolism in many animals, including dogs and humans.
Dogs with lower IGF-1 levels were found to have a higher quality of life and a lower risk of frailty, according to results from previous studies. Large dogs have a naturally higher level of IGF-1, so there seems to be a link between the levels of IGF-1, dog size, and dog lifespan.
6. Can LOY-001 work for humans?
The genetic similarities between humans and dogs are actually greater than those between other common subjects of research on aging, such as mice. Numerous age-related diseases, such as cancer and osteoarthritis, are common among members of our species. In addition, dogs typically live with us, sharing our exposures to the environment.
Upon reaching adulthood, the secretion of insulin-like growth factor-1 IGF-1 in humans gradually decreases until it reaches extremely low levels in individuals aged 60 and older. The optimal levels of IGF-1 throughout a person’s lifetime are still unknown, despite the fact that there are numerous pieces of evidence suggesting that a reduction in IGF-1 may have positive effects on the extension of the human lifespan.
Nevertheless, if the FDA is successful in approving LOY-001, it may be a momentous occasion not only for people who own pets but also for people who are getting older. This is the first time that regulators in the United States have made a suggestion that they might be prepared to endorse drugs that promote longevity.
For a considerable amount of time, the pharmaceutical industry has been primarily focused on the development of medications that are capable of treating specific diseases, including those that are associated with the aging process. Before beginning treatment for these diseases, it is customarily necessary to first establish the presence of the disease and observe the patient’s symptoms.
The approach that Loyal takes represents a different paradigm: we should make use of our knowledge of the mechanisms that are responsible for the aging process in order to lessen the likelihood of developing these diseases in the first place. LOY-001 represents a new category of pharmaceuticals focused on targeting mechanisms of aging to prevent or delay the onset of age-associated diseases rather than waiting for patients to get sick before treating them.
This announcement demonstrates that the FDA is of the opinion that Loyal’s approach is valid.
With any luck, this is just the beginning of a wave of anti-aging medications that will continue to build. There are a number of other trials for longevity that are currently being conducted on both dogs and people. One of these has to do with a drug known as rapamycin. These trials are testing out drugs that are both new and old that scientists who study aging hope could help slow down the clock.
Despite the fact that there has never been a drug that has been approved to combat the effects of aging, many experts are optimistic that a breakthrough moment in the field may be just around the corner.
This has my tail wagging. Hopefully it’ll keep Fido’s tail wagging longer too.
Comments