NewLimit, a startup focused on extending healthy human lifespan through cellular genetic programming, has successfully secured $130 million in a Series B funding round, led by venture capital firm Kleiner Perkins. This financing follows a previous $40 million Series A round, evidencing the firm’s growth and investor confidence. Notable new investors include Nat Friedman, Daniel Gross, and Khosla Ventures, while established supporters like Founders Fund and Dimension Capital also contributed.
Founded over four years ago by prominent figures such as Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong, former GV partner Blake Byers, and stem cell expert Jacob Kimmel, NewLimit is making strides in developing therapies that aim to restore youthful features in ageing cells. According to Byers, the company has identified three prototype drugs capable of reprogramming liver cells, which have shown promising results in laboratory experiments. These experiments indicate that older liver cells can regain functionalities akin to their younger counterparts, such as fat and alcohol processing abilities.
Despite these encouraging findings, NewLimit acknowledges that human trials are still several years away. In the interim, the company plans to leverage artificial intelligence (AI) to refine its anti-aging drug development process. By simulating various experiments, the AI can help identify the most promising drug candidates, with the goal of reducing the time and resources spent on less effective options. The data gathered will subsequently be used to enhance the AI model in a continuous improvement cycle dubbed “lab in a loop.”
NewLimit is not alone in its quest; other biotech innovators, such as Retro Biosciences and Altos Labs, are also pursuing longevity research. Retro Biosciences has attracted significant attention, having raised $180 million from OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, and is reportedly looking to raise an additional $1 billion in Series A funding. Meanwhile, Altos Labs, which boasts backing from billionaire Jeff Bezos, launched in 2022 with an ambitious goal and a robust $3 billion investment.
As the race for longevity-enhancing drugs intensifies, NewLimit’s progress and strategic use of AI position it as a significant contender in the biotechnology sector.
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