Health · Fitness & Nutrition · 1 day ago
AI firms and biotech companies pursue treatments to slow ageing
Interest in living longer has grown as populations age and wealthy clients seek treatments at longevity clinics.
At a clinic in London's Chelsea district, customers pay for services including cold exposure, oxygen treatment and intravenous supplements.
The field includes loosely regulated businesses selling treatments of uncertain effectiveness and biotech firms developing medicines to slow or reverse ageing.
Anthropic chief Dario Amodei has suggested AI could help raise human life expectancy to 150 years, while OpenAI chief Sam Altman has invested more than $180 million in Retro Biosciences.
These ambitions matter because a drug that slows ageing could be a huge market, although developing one may take years, if it is possible at all.
For now, biotech companies are testing their ideas in laboratories, while customers at many clinics pay out of pocket because health insurance rarely covers the treatments.
Companies are pursuing treatments that could slow or reverse ageing, while clinics sell a range of longevity services whose effectiveness is sometimes doubtful.
The article describes biotech firms working with major pharmaceutical companies to develop drugs targeting ageing itself.
Some technology and business leaders have backed the field, including OpenAI chief Sam Altman, who invested more than $180 million in Retro Biosciences.
The potential market is large, but an ageing treatment could take years to develop, if one becomes available.
Meanwhile, customers pay out of pocket for treatments at clinics such as HUM 2 N in London.
- Who
- Biotech companies, longevity clinics and investors are pursuing ways to extend healthy life.
- What
- They are developing or selling treatments intended to slow ageing or improve longevity.
- When
- The article was published on November 8, 2026.
- Where
- The article describes a longevity clinic in Chelsea, London, and companies including Retro Biosciences and Insilico Medicine.
- Why
- The article says interest is growing as populations age and the potential market is large.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
This story does not have a timeline yet.
- HUM 2 N location
- Chelsea, London
- HUM 2 N five-session package
- £3,000
- Retro Biosciences investment
- More than $180 million from Sam Altman
- OECD population aged 65 or older
- Nearly one-fifth currently; more than one-quarter by 2050
What people are saying
You can sell a year of life.
Not stated