Retro Biosciences is on a mission to extend the human lifespan by targeting age-related diseases, with $1 billion in funding to back its clinical trials. The company, supported by Sam Altman and other tech moguls, aims to develop therapies that could slow aging and potentially reverse it. Their first move is to tackle Alzheimer’s with an innovative drug that may restore cellular function, marking a big step in the fight against aging (Greenfield, 2025).
Harnessing AI to Combat Aging
At the core of Retro Biosciences’ strategy is artificial intelligence. The company is using AI to design proteins that reprogram regular cells into stem cells, targeting aging at the cellular level. This process could lead to therapies that rejuvenate blood and brain cells, offering the possibility of replacing aged stem cells and restoring youthful biological functions (Retro Biosciences, 2025).
The Vision Behind Retro Biosciences
Joe Betts-LaCroix, an entrepreneur and scientist, co-founded Retro Biosciences with the goal of reversing age-related diseases. With a background in biophysics, Betts-LaCroix has previously founded companies like OQO, which created the world’s smallest personal computer, and Vium, a company focused on automating animal research (Betts-LaCroix, 2024). In 2020, he co-founded Retro Biosciences, focusing on breakthroughs to extend healthy human lifespans, driven by AI and cellular reprogramming.
Watch the Signs Surrounding Healthcare Progress
With industries ranging from biotechnology and pharmaceuticals to insurance, healthcare services, and even real estate poised to be impacted, advancements in AI-driven therapies could shift how we approach aging, health management, and longevity, creating new market demands and reshaping long-established business models.
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References
Betts-LaCroix, J. (2024, December 17). Joe Betts-LaCroix. Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_Betts-LaCroix
Greenfield, B. (2025, January 24). Sam Altman-backed AI biotech announces $1 billion for its lofty goal: adding 10 years to human life span. Fortune. https://fortune.com/2025/01/24/sam-altman-ai-biotech-1-billion-funding-extend-human-lifespan/
Retro Biosciences. (2025). Our science. Retro. https://www.retro.bio/
