If there’s one thing that can make pet owners sad, it’s the thought of their beloved pet passing away.
Well, there will be no need to worry as a “promising” anti-aging drug that could potentially increase the lifespan of large breed dogs is close to being approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of the United States.
Loyal- The company behind LOY-001, the anti-aging drug
Loyal, a San Francisco-based biotechnology company behind the manufacturing of the drug, announced the development last week. The company said the drug had cleared initial hurdles with the FDA, which was a symbol of its potential effectiveness.
“Today’s milestone is a critical part of Loyal’s request for conditional approval,” the company said in the press release.
“This means that the FDA agrees that LOY-001 has a reasonable expectation of effectiveness,” the statement continued. “Once the FDA approves Loyal’s manufacturing and safety data sets, Loyal will be able to market the drug to extend the lifespan of the target canine population. »
“The conditional approval lasts for up to five years, during which time Loyal will collect remaining efficacy data and apply for full approval.”
Currently, there are no FDA-approved or conditionally approved drugs on the market for this purpose.
“There are 25 million large breed dogs in the United States alone – that’s 25 million dogs that we can help live longer and with a better quality of life,” Céline Halioua, CEO and founder of Loyal , in a statement to Fox News Digital.
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Efficacy of LOY-001
According to the company’s claim, the drug LOY-001 could help slow down age-related processes in dogs 40 years old. It works by interacting with a hormone called IGF-1, known to accelerate the aging process.
According to a Loyal spokesperson, the drug is designed to prevent age-related canine diseases.
“Loyal’s approach represents a different paradigm, using our understanding of the underlying mechanisms of aging to reduce the risk of these diseases,” the company said.
Even though the drug has passed the initial stages, it still needs to be fully approved before it can reach the market. This approval must involve the completion of a large clinical trial and a review of safety and manufacturing data.
It is expected to be available by 2026, in case it receives FDA approval.
The doctor’s opinion
According to veterinarians, the average lifespan of a dog is around 10 to 13 years, with larger breeds aging more quickly and having a shorter life expectancy. Indeed, the growth hormone IGF-1 is present at much higher levels in large breed dogs than in small ones.
LOY-001 aims to reduce IGF-1. According to Dr. Ivana Crnec, a veterinarian with the Texas-based Veterinarian.org Foundation, the drug is “revolutionary.”
“We still have to wait to see its results and potential side effects, but so far LOY-001 is definitely promising,” she continued. “The fact that the FDA described the drug as having ‘reasonable expectations of effectiveness’ speaks volumes about its potential.”