Retro Biosciences, Supported by Sam Altman, Aims to Raise $1 Billion to Prolong Human Lifespan
Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, is intensifying his investment in Retro Biosciences, a San Francisco-based biotech startup aiming to extend the human lifespan by 10 additional years beyond what it defines as a healthy duration.
Previously, Altman financed Retro Biosciences’ full seed round of $180 million. Now, the startup is seeking to raise a $1 billion Series A, with Altman participating, according to reports from The Financial Times.
Retro Biosciences plans to initiate trials for drugs aimed at diseases such as Alzheimer’s and has recently collaborated with OpenAI to develop a model that converts standard cells into stem cells.
CEO Joe Betts-LaCroix expressed to the FT his desire to accelerate the process by discovering and developing a drug “in the 2020s.”
The startup is part of a broader trend of billionaire-funded longevity initiatives, joining the ranks of Altos Labs, which debuted with $3 billion in 2022, backed by Jeff Bezos, and Unity Biotechnology, supported by both Bezos and Peter Thiel.