Rejuvenation biotech - progress and potential, with Karl Pfleger
Sep 18, 2024
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Karl Pfleger, an angel investor and creator of Aging Biotech Info, dives into the exciting world of rejuvenation biotechnology. He shares insights on the rapid advancements in the field, including breakthroughs in epigenetic reprogramming and stem cell therapies. Karl discusses the role of AI in streamlining clinical trials and the importance of investors in combating age-related diseases. He also explores the concept of longevity escape velocity and how individuals can contribute to this innovative sector.
The podcast emphasizes the importance of rejuvenation biotech in restoring peak health for older individuals, rather than merely extending lifespan.
Karl Pfleger highlights the significant growth and investment in rejuvenation biotech since the mid-2010s, leading to an increase in clinical trials and company development.
Deep dives
Focus on Rejuvenation Biotech
The guest emphasizes a strict focus on rejuvenation biotech over other aging-related approaches due to a desire to restore peak health for elderly individuals. Rejuvenation aims to reverse age-related decline, contrasting with methods that merely slow aging. This preference stems from a belief that advancements should enhance the quality of life for older adults rather than just promote longevity without consideration of health. The guest also notes the inundation of pitches from various sectors, highlighting the challenge of identifying worthwhile investments solely within the rejuvenation biotech field.
Growth of Rejuvenation Biotech Field
Since the mid-2010s, the rejuvenation biotech field has experienced significant growth, marked by an increase in funding, companies, clinical trials, and discussions surrounding this area of research. Initial evidence suggested aging could be altered, but investment and interest lagged due to limited biotech activity and NIH funding. The shift towards venture capital support catalyzed a flourishing environment, leading to a considerable rise in both the number of companies and their clinical development stages. This momentum indicates a promising future with further expansion expected as established biologists redirect focus towards aging.
Challenges in Clinical Trial Approvals
The guest discusses the lengthy process of transitioning from academic research to approved clinical therapies, often taking over ten years due to multiple testing phases. Although there has been progress, with several companies in advanced clinical trial stages, no treatments have yet received widespread approval. Initial expectations regarding rapid development of therapies have not materialized, leading to caution in the field. However, emerging companies and recent interest are anticipated to result in future approvals, potentially reshaping public perception of aging interventions.
Role of AI in Biotech Development
The impact of artificial intelligence on accelerating the clinical trial process is currently uncertain, as the trials are inherently lengthy and data on its effects remain incomplete. While there are reasons to be optimistic about AI facilitating various stages of drug development, limitations exist in digital simulations of biological processes. The complexity of biology requires empirical testing, which hampers complete reliance on AI for expedited results. The guest remains hopeful that AI could enhance early discovery phases, contributing positively to biotech advancements in the near future.
Our guest in this episode is Karl Pfleger. Karl is an angel investor in rejuvenation biotech startups, and is also known for creating and maintaining the website Aging Biotech Info. That website describes itself as “Structured info about aging and longevity”, and has the declared mission statement, “Everything important in the field (outside of academia), organized.”
Previously, Karl worked at Google from 2002 to 2013, as a research scientist and data analyst, applying AI and machine learning at scale. He has a BSE in Computer Science from Princeton, and a PhD in Computer Science and AI from Stanford.
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