Aging is a natural biological process that gradually reduces the body’s ability to repair and regenerate cells, increasing the risk of chronic diseases and functional decline over time. As scientists gain a deeper understanding of the molecular mechanisms behind aging, anti-aging research is shifting beyond symptom management toward therapies that aim to slow, delay, or even reverse age-related cellular changes, with the goal of extending not only lifespan but also healthy years of life.
Targeting the biology of aging
Founded in 2017, Boston-based Life Biosciences is taking a different approach to combating age-related diseases by targeting the biological processes that drive aging itself. Co-founded by Harvard geneticist David A. Sinclair, the company is developing cellular rejuvenation therapies that aim to restore aging cells to a healthier state, with the long-term goal of slowing, preventing, or even reversing diseases linked to aging.
At the core of Life Biosciences’ work is a technology called Partial Epigenetic Reprogramming (PER), which seeks to help aging cells behave more like younger, healthier ones. Rather than changing a cell’s DNA, the approach focuses on restoring the biological “instructions” that gradually become disrupted as we age. To do this, the company uses a carefully selected combination of three naturally occurring proteins that encourage cells to regain healthier function, while deliberately leaving out another protein linked to an increased risk of tumor formation. The goal is to rejuvenate cells without causing them to lose the specialized roles they play in the body.
From scientific discovery to patented cellular rejuvenation
In 2021 the company licensed intellectual property based on two groundbreaking studies published in Nature. In one study, led by Dr. David Sinclair, researchers used gene therapy to restore vision and regenerate damaged optic nerves in aged and glaucoma-model mice. Another study, led by founder scientist Ana Maria Cuervo, found that boosting the body’s natural cellular recycling process rejuvenated aging blood-forming stem cells, allowing them to function more like younger, healthier cells. Together, these findings laid the scientific foundation for the company’s cellular rejuvenation platform.
One of the patented technologies that emerged from Life Biosciences’ research is U.S. Patent No. 12,409,207, which outlines a method for rejuvenating aging cells through partial epigenetic reprogramming. Instead of fully resetting cells into stem cells, the invention uses three naturally occurring proteins (OCT4, SOX2, and KLF4 (OSK)) to restore more youthful cellular function while reducing the risk of tumor formation. The patent also describes a controllable gene therapy system that allows the treatment to be switched on or off as needed, providing an added layer of safety.
Preclinical studies described in the patent demonstrated encouraging results, particularly in vision restoration. The therapy promoted optic nerve regeneration after injury, improved vision in glaucoma models, reversed age-related vision decline in older mice, and supported the survival and regrowth of damaged human neurons. Together, these findings provide the scientific foundation for Life Biosciences’ efforts to develop regenerative therapies for age-related diseases
Cellular rejuvenation therapy enters human trials
Years of research have led Life Biosciences to one of its biggest milestones yet: testing its lead therapy, ER-100, in human clinical trials. After receiving clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), ER-100 became the first partial epigenetic reprogramming therapy to enter human testing. In 2026, the company treated its first patient in a Phase 1 study targeting severe eye diseases such as glaucoma and Non-Arteritic Anterior Ischemic Optic Neuropathy (NAION), which can lead to permanent vision loss.
To support its expanding research and clinical programs, Life Biosciences recently secured an oversubscribed $80 million Series D financing round. The funding will support completion of the Phase 1 ER-100 trial while advancing additional programs targeting age-related diseases in other tissues and organs. As the company continues to move its cellular rejuvenation platform through clinical development, it represents one of the leading efforts to translate anti-aging research into therapies that could fundamentally change how age-related diseases are treated.
Treating health problems caused by aging
As cells become less efficient over time, the risk of developing chronic conditions such as vision loss, liver disease, cardiovascular disorders, neurodegenerative diseases, and reduced fertility increases. While many current treatments focus on managing symptoms, researchers are increasingly exploring ways to slow, prevent, or even reverse the underlying biological processes that drive age-related decline.
Repairing damaged optic nerve cells
One of the many challenges associated with aging is the increased risk of vision loss caused by damage to the optic nerve. Conditions such as NAION are most common in adults over the age of 50 and can lead to sudden, permanent vision loss when the nerve cells that transmit visual signals from the eye to the brain are damaged. Despite years of research, there are still no proven treatments that can restore lost vision, making optic nerve degeneration one of the most significant unmet needs in age-related healthcare.
To tackle this challenge, U.S. Patent No. 12,252,518 describes a gene therapy that delivers three naturally occurring proteins to damaged optic nerve cells, helping them regain more youthful function without turning them into stem cells.
By encouraging the cells to repair themselves while maintaining their original identity, the therapy aims to restore healthy nerve activity with a lower risk of unwanted side effects. In preclinical studies, the treatment promoted optic nerve repair, protected healthy nerve fibers, and improved visual function, highlighting its potential as a regenerative therapy for age-related vision loss.
The patent, titled “Methods of treating non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy” was filed on May 04, 2023, and was granted on March 18, 2025. The listed inventors are Michel Wathier, Jennifer Cermak, and Joan Mannick. Legal Representation was provided by David Shore under Foley Hoag LLP.
Regenerating aging liver cells for a healthier liver
Aging also increases the risk of chronic liver diseases such as metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) and its more advanced form, metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH). As these conditions progress, fat builds up in the liver, triggering inflammation, scarring, and a gradual decline in liver function that can eventually lead to cirrhosis. Researchers have also found that these diseases are linked to age-related changes in how cells regulate their genes, making them a promising target for therapies aimed at restoring healthier cellular function rather than simply treating the symptoms.
Building on this understanding, U.S. Pat. App. Pub. No. 2026/0108630 describes a regenerative approach that uses partial epigenetic reprogramming to help aging liver cells function more like healthy ones. The therapy delivers three naturally occurring proteins to reset harmful age-related changes in liver cells, with the goal of reducing fat buildup, inflammation, and scarring without fully reprogramming the cells.
In preclinical studies, the treatment improved multiple indicators of liver health, lowered markers of liver damage, and reduced fat accumulation, highlighting its potential as a new approach for treating chronic liver diseases such as MASLD and MASH.
The patent application, titled “Partial epigenetic reprogramming for liver disease treatment” was filed on October 16, 2025, and was published on April 23, 2026. The listed inventors are Sharon Rosenzweig-Lipson, Ming Yang, Richard Davis, and Michel Wathier.
Boosting NAD+ for healthier aging
Another hallmark of aging is the gradual decline in cellular energy, which affects the body’s ability to repair itself and maintain healthy tissues. This decline is closely linked to falling levels of NAD+, a molecule essential for energy production, DNA repair, and normal cell function.
As NAD+ levels decrease with age, they contribute to a range of age-related problems, including reduced fertility, poorer egg quality, and a decline in overall cellular health. While several NAD+ boosting compounds have shown promise, many have limitations such as unwanted side effects or poor stability, highlighting the need for more effective anti-aging therapies.
To overcome these limitations, U.S. Pat. App. Pub. No. 2021/0196742 describes a new class of NAD+-boosting compounds designed to be more stable and effective than existing options. By combining a key NAD+ precursor with naturally occurring amino acids, the therapy aims to improve how well the compound can be stored, delivered, and absorbed by the body.
Laboratory studies showed that several of these compounds increased NAD+ levels more effectively than conventional formulations, highlighting their potential to support healthier aging, improve fertility, and treat a range of age-related conditions linked to declining cellular function.
The patent application, titled “Amino acid salts of nicotinic acid ribosides as anti-aging agents” was filed on May 22, 2019, published on July 01, 2021. The listed inventors are Sebastian Mario Marcuccio, Rohan David Joyce, Michel Wathier, Roland Dolle, and Simon Tucker.
Life Biosciences: Patenting Activity
Life Biosciences has filed patents intermittently since its founding in 2017, with much of its early patent activity beginning in 2018. That year also marked the company’s emergence as a recognized player in the growing longevity sector, drawing attention for its mission to develop therapies that target the underlying biology of aging.
As of writing, its patents and patent applications can be grouped into six main patent families. The earliest families focus on improved formulations of NAD⁺ precursor compounds for anti-aging applications. More recent filings show the company’s expansion into treatments for age-related diseases, such as vision loss, and partial epigenetic reprogramming, a regenerative medicine approach aimed at restoring youthful cell function.
| Patent Family | Title | Priority Date | Publication Date |
| US10654883 | Inorganic salts of nicotinic acid mononucleotide as anti-aging agents | 2018-05-15 | 2020-05-19 |
| US20210309685 | Amino acid salts of nicotinic acid mononucleotide and nicotinamide mononucloetide as anti-ageing agents | 2018-05-15 | 2021-10-07 |
| US12661370 | Amino acid salts of nicotinic acid ribosides as anti-aging agents | 2018-05-22 | 2026-06-23 |
| US20210309686 | Quaternary ammonium salts of nicotinic acid and nicotinamide mononucloetides and ribosides as anti-aging agents | 2018-08-01 | 2021-10-07 |
| US12252518 | Methods of treating non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy | 2023-01-06 | 2025-03-18 |
| US20260108630 | Partial epigenetic reprogramming for liver disease treatment | 2024-10-17 | 2026-04-23 |
As Life Biosciences expanded in 2018, it diversified its research model to a network of specialized daughter companies. By early 2019, the company had publicly unveiled six subsidiaries, each focused on a different biological pathway of aging while sharing scientific resources and development expertise to accelerate the discovery of new anti-aging therapies.
Life Biosciences: Top Jurisdictions
Life Biosciences has concentrated most of its patent filings in the United States, reflecting its Boston-based research operations and focus on advancing therapies through the U.S. regulatory system.
The company has also extended patent protection to countries including South Korea, Australia, and Japan, signaling its intent to secure intellectual property in major biotechnology markets as its cellular rejuvenation technologies mature. While these international filings demonstrate a strategy to protect future commercialization opportunities, the company’s research, clinical development, and public partnerships have remained largely centered in the United States.
Life Biosciences: Top Technology Areas
Life Biosciences’ patent portfolio is concentrated in technologies supporting the discovery and development of therapies for aging and age-related diseases. The most common classifications include A61P (specific therapeutic activity of medicinal preparations), A61K (medical or pharmaceutical preparations), C07H (sugars, nucleosides, nucleotides, and nucleic acids), and C12N (microorganisms or enzymes). These technology areas align with the company’s work on NAD⁺ metabolism, epigenetic reprogramming, gene-based therapies, and other approaches aimed at targeting the biological mechanisms of aging.
Additional patent classifications, such as C07F, C07C, C07D, and C07K, reflect the company’s development of novel chemical compounds, heterocyclic molecules, and peptide-based therapeutics used in its drug discovery programs.
Life Biosciences: Top Law Firms
Life Biosciences has worked with several law firms to build and protect its patent portfolio, with Chalker Flores and Kim & Chang handling the largest share of filings, each representing nine patent families. RnB IP follows with eight filings, while Mintz has managed seven. The remaining filings were handled by Deeth Williams Wall, Shusaku Yamamoto, Cooley, and Foley Hoag, reflecting a mix of U.S. and international patent counsel.
The geographic distribution of these firms reflects Life Biosciences’ international patenting strategy. U.S.-based firms have supported protection in the company’s home market and core technology areas, while partnerships with firms in South Korea, Japan, and Canada indicate efforts to secure intellectual property rights in key overseas jurisdictions, supporting future commercialization and global market expansion.