NewLimit, a biotechnology startup focused on extending healthy lifespans through cellular reprogramming, has successfully secured $130 million in a Series B funding round, spearheaded by Kleiner Perkins. This financing was bolstered by notable investors including Nat Friedman, Daniel Gross, and Khosla Ventures, alongside returning contributors such as Founders Fund and Dimension Capital. The latest capital infusion comes two years after the company raised $40 million in its Series A round.
Established over four years ago by prominent figures including Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong, Blake Bryers (former GV partner), and stem cell expert Jacob Kimmel, NewLimit has made notable strides in developing therapies aimed at restoring youthful properties to ageing cells. According to Bryers, the firm has identified three prototype medications capable of reprogramming liver cells. Laboratory tests indicate these bioengineered treatments rejuvenate older cells, enhancing their ability to metabolise fats and alcohol.
To evaluate their progress, NewLimit compares the responses of liver cells from younger and older individuals, observing that older cells subjected to epigenetic reprogramming exhibit behaviours akin to younger cells. Although the results are promising, Bryers cautions that the company is still several years away from commencing human trials.
In the interim, NewLimit plans to leverage an artificial intelligence model to pioneer further anti-ageing therapies. By simulating experiments virtually, the AI will enable the team to focus on the most promising drug candidates. The iterative process, described as “lab in a loop,” uses experimental data to continually enhance the AI model.
In the broader landscape of biotech, several other companies are exploring longevity-focused drug development, including Retro Biosciences, which raised $180 million from OpenAI’s CEO Sam Altman, and Altos Labs, founded with a $3 billion investment from Jeff Bezos. These initiatives reflect a growing interest in harnessing advanced technology to prolong healthy life across various sectors of biotechnology.
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