Key takeaways
- Top pick: Altos Labs, best for: Pharma partners and researchers tracking rejuvenation science.
- Also near the top: NewLimit, best for: Investors and partners backing reprogramming therapies; and Retro Biosciences, best for: Partners following ageing biology into the clinic.
- How it was ranked: 10 startups compared. Each verdict is below.
Best Longevity Startups: Top 10 Ranked. Altos Labs ranks first, with a Lister Score of 96.8.
Altos Labs is the best-funded longevity startup globally, working on cell rejuvenation, while
NewLimit and
Retro Biosciences lead the push to take ageing biology into human trials.
Loyal is the furthest along the regulatory path with a lifespan drug for dogs, and
Function Health is the main consumer pick for whole-body lab testing.
Best Longevity Startups in 2026, compared| RANK | ENTRY | BEST FOR | SCORE | FROM |
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| 1 |  Altos LabsAltos Labs launched in January 2022 with a reported $3 billion in funding. | Pharma partners and researchers tracking rejuvenation science | 96.8 | Custom |
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| 2 |  NewLimitNewLimit says it plans a first Phase I trial of its liver reprogramming therapy in patients with fatty liver disease. | Investors and partners backing reprogramming therapies | 95.6 | Custom |
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| 3 |  Retro BiosciencesRetro says its lead candidate RTR242 entered the clinic in 2025. | Partners following ageing biology into the clinic | 94.3 | Custom |
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| 4 |  LoyalIn January 2026 the FDA accepted the target animal safety section of LOY-002's conditional approval application, the second of three major parts. | Vets and owners of senior and large dogs | 93.1 | Not public |
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| 5 |  Function HealthFunction Health's November 2025 Series B brought its total funding to about $350 million. | Consumers who want regular whole-body lab testing | 91.8 | From $365 a year |
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| 6 |  Life BiosciencesThe FDA cleared Life Biosciences' IND for ER-100 in January 2026, which the company calls the first partial epigenetic reprogramming therapy to reach human trials. | Partners in eye disease and reprogramming | 90.4 | Custom |
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| 7 |  JuvenescenceJuvenescence's M42 investment came with a strategic partnership to build a drug development hub in Abu Dhabi. | Partners in age-related disease drug development | 89.1 | Custom |
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| 8 |  Rubedo Life SciencesRubedo reported in May 2026 that RLS-1496 cut actinic keratosis lesions by 46% at four weeks in preliminary Phase 1b/2a results. | Dermatology and senolytics partners | 87.7 | Custom |
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| 9 |  Cambrian BioThe ARPA-H award supports human trials of a daily oral mTORC1 inhibitor aimed at improving intrinsic capacity in older people. | Partners interested in next-generation rapamycin drugs | 86.4 | Custom |
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| 10 |  GametoGameto says Fertilo is the first therapy made from induced pluripotent stem cells to reach late-stage clinical development in the US. | Fertility clinics and women's health partners | 85.0 | Custom |
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How to choose
Start from what you need it for. Where each entry fits best:
- Altos Labs (#1): Pharma partners and researchers tracking rejuvenation science
- NewLimit (#2): Investors and partners backing reprogramming therapies
- Retro Biosciences (#3): Partners following ageing biology into the clinic
- Loyal (#4): Vets and owners of senior and large dogs
- Function Health (#5): Consumers who want regular whole-body lab testing
- Life Biosciences (#6): Partners in eye disease and reprogramming
- Juvenescence (#7): Partners in age-related disease drug development
- Rubedo Life Sciences (#8): Dermatology and senolytics partners
- Cambrian Bio (#9): Partners interested in next-generation rapamycin drugs
- Gameto (#10): Fertility clinics and women's health partners
Each entry's full verdict is below.
The ranking, in detail
01
Cell rejuvenation research at scale
Altos Labs, founded in 2021 and based in Redwood City, California, researches how to restore cell health and resilience through cellular rejuvenation. It launched in January 2022 with a reported $3 billion and acquired senotherapeutics startup Dorian Therapeutics in May 2025.
PROS- Largest funding base in the field
- Deep bench of academic scientists
CONS- No approved product yet
- Discloses little about its pipeline
- Best for
- Pharma partners and researchers tracking rejuvenation science
- Where it falls short
- No approved product yet.
- Pick something else if
- you need an available solution today.
96.8
02
Epigenetic reprogramming medicines
NewLimit, based in South San Francisco, develops epigenetic reprogramming therapies that aim to restore youthful function to ageing cells, starting with the liver. It raised a $435 million Series C led by Founders Fund in June 2026, at a reported $3.1 billion valuation.
PROS- Very large recent funding round
- Clear first clinical target
CONS- Still preclinical
- Reprogramming safety unproven in humans
- Best for
- Investors and partners backing reprogramming therapies
- Where it falls short
- Still preclinical.
- Pick something else if
- you need proven human safety data now.
95.6
03
Therapies for the cellular drivers of ageing
Retro Biosciences, founded in 2021 in Redwood City, California, develops therapies that target cellular drivers of ageing, including autophagy and cell replacement programmes. It launched with $180 million from Sam Altman and announced the initial close of a new round at a $1.8 billion pre-money valuation in May 2026.
PROS- Lead programme already in the clinic
- Strong investor backing
CONS- Latest round size not disclosed
- Early clinical stage
- Best for
- Partners following ageing biology into the clinic
- Where it falls short
- Latest round size not disclosed.
- Pick something else if
- you need proven clinical results.
94.3
04
Lifespan drugs for dogs
Loyal, based in San Francisco, develops drugs intended to extend the healthy lifespan of dogs, led by LOY-002 for senior dogs. It raised a $100 million Series C led by age1 in February 2026, taking total funding past $250 million.
PROS- Furthest along the regulatory path
- Shorter dog lifespans allow faster proof
CONS- Not yet approved for sale
- Animal health only
- Best for
- Vets and owners of senior and large dogs
- Where it falls short
- It is limited to animal health only.
- Pick something else if
- you need human health solutions.
93.1
05
Membership with 100+ lab tests
Function Health, based in Austin, Texas, sells a health membership with more than 100 lab tests, optional imaging and data-driven insights aimed at prevention and healthspan. It raised a $298 million Series B led by Redpoint Ventures in November 2025, at a $2.5 billion valuation.
PROS- On sale to consumers now
- Large panel of tests per membership
CONS- Testing, not treatment
- Imaging and some screens cost extra
- Best for
- Consumers who want regular whole-body lab testing
- Where it falls short
- Imaging and some screens cost extra.
- Pick something else if
- you need imaging included in the base price.
91.8
06
Partial epigenetic reprogramming therapies
Life Biosciences, based in Boston, develops cellular rejuvenation therapies using partial epigenetic reprogramming, led by ER-100 for optic neuropathies. It announced an $80 million Series D in April 2026 and dosed the first patient in its ER-100 trial in June 2026.
PROS- First reprogramming therapy in humans
- Clear initial indication
CONS- Phase 1 stage
- Narrow first target in eye disease
- Best for
- Partners in eye disease and reprogramming
- Where it falls short
- Phase 1 stage.
- Pick something else if
- you need broader indications or later-stage data.
90.4
07
AI-enabled drugs for healthy lifespan
Juvenescence, a UK-based clinical-stage biotech founded in 2016, develops AI-enabled therapeutics for age-related disease and healthy lifespan. It closed a $76 million first tranche of its Series B-1 round, led by Abu Dhabi's M42, in May 2025.
PROS- Clinical-stage pipeline
- Strategic backing from M42
CONS- Older than most startups here
- Full round size not confirmed
- Best for
- Partners in age-related disease drug development
- Where it falls short
- It is older than most startups in this category.
- Pick something else if
- you want a newer entrant.
89.1
08
Drugs that target senescent cells
Rubedo Life Sciences, founded in 2018 in Sunnyvale, California, develops medicines that target senescent cells, led by RLS-1496. It raised a $40 million Series A in April 2024, and the FDA cleared an IND for an actinic keratosis study in September 2025.
PROS- Human data already reported
- Topical drug lowers safety risk
CONS- Early clinical stage
- Skin conditions first, not systemic ageing
- Best for
- Dermatology and senolytics partners
- Where it falls short
- It focuses on skin conditions rather than addressing systemic aging.
- Pick something else if
- you need treatments for systemic aging.
87.7
09
Pipeline of healthspan therapies
Cambrian Bio, based in New York, builds a pipeline of therapies for age-related disease and healthy ageing, including the TORnado platform of selective mTORC1 inhibitors. In February 2026 it was awarded up to $30.8 million under ARPA-H's PROSPR programme.
PROS- US government backing for trials
- Builds on well-studied rapamycin biology
CONS- Latest equity funding not disclosed
- Early clinical stage
- Best for
- Partners interested in next-generation rapamycin drugs
- Where it falls short
- It is in the early clinical stage, so therapies are not yet available.
- Pick something else if
- you need approved treatments now.
86.4
10
Stem cell therapies for ovarian ageing
Gameto develops stem cell-derived therapies for reproductive longevity, led by Fertilo, which matures eggs outside the body for IVF using engineered ovarian support cells. It raised a $44 million Series C in August 2025, taking total funding to $127 million.
PROS- Pivotal Phase 3 trial under way
- Shortens hormone stimulation for IVF
CONS- Not yet approved in the US
- Reproductive ageing only
- Best for
- Fertility clinics and women's health partners
- Where it falls short
- It is not yet approved in the US.
- Pick something else if
- you need a US-approved treatment.
85.0
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Frequently asked questions
What are the best Longevity Startups?
Altos Labs ranks first on Lister. Altos Labs, founded in 2021 and based in Redwood City, California, researches how to restore cell health and resilience through cellular rejuvenation. It launched in January 2022 with a reported $3 billion and acquired senotherapeutics startup Dorian Therapeutics in May 2025.
What are the top 10 Longevity Startups?
1. Altos Labs; 2. NewLimit; 3. Retro Biosciences; 4. Loyal; 5. Function Health; 6. Life Biosciences; 7. Juvenescence; 8. Rubedo Life Sciences; 9. Cambrian Bio; 10. Gameto.
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