Thousands of dogs are already trying the first life-extending pill: "They could gain the equivalent of 24 human years."
The Spanish newspaper elDiario.es recently reported on two groundbreaking clinical trials in the United States that are testing the world’s first longevity pills in dogs. The idea is that if scientists can find safe ways to extend healthy lifespan in our pets, those same strategies may one day be applied to humans. The trials represent a major step in turning aging research into practical medicine, and early results have generated enormous anticipation.
The first study, known as LOY-002 or the STAY trial, is being led by the biotechnology company Loyal. More than 1,300 small, elderly dogs—over 10 years old and weighing less than 6 kilograms—are enrolled across more than 70 veterinary clinics. These dogs receive a daily pill designed to mimic the biological benefits of calorie restriction, a proven way to extend lifespan in animals, but without reducing appetite or food intake. The trial is set to last four years, giving scientists enough time to track whether the treatment meaningfully changes how long and how well the dogs live.
The second major trial is being conducted by the nonprofit Dog Aging Project. Known as TRIAD, this study involves about 850 dogs of different breeds, most of them larger animals that tend to age more quickly. The drug being tested is rapamycin, an immunosuppressant already well known in medicine. In laboratory mice, rapamycin has repeatedly been shown to extend lifespan by up to 30 percent, and in preliminary studies with dogs it has improved heart function. The TRIAD trial is structured as a rigorous double-blind experiment, with three years of treatment and two additional years of follow-up.
If the results from mice hold true in dogs, rapamycin could significantly increase their average lifespan. Scientists estimate that for a dog that normally lives 10 years, the drug might add around three more. To put this in human terms, an increase of 15 percent in lifespan would be like gaining an extra 12 years, while a 30 percent increase would amount to as much as 24 additional years of life. These are striking figures that capture the imagination, though experts caution that more data is needed before any conclusions can be drawn.
One reason dogs are considered such valuable models for aging research is that they live closely alongside humans, sharing both environment and lifestyle. Unlike laboratory mice, they also display enormous genetic diversity, with hundreds of breeds and mixes. This makes them much more realistic test subjects for studying how aging might work in people. At the same time, using pets for these studies means that the benefits of any successful drug would be felt directly by families who love them.
Of course, there are challenges. Rapamycin, while one of the most promising compounds for longevity, is also an immunosuppressant. This raises concerns about its safety for long-term use, particularly in healthy humans. For that reason, some scientists see Loyal’s LOY-002 pill as a safer alternative approach, since it is designed to trigger beneficial pathways without interfering with immune function. Both trials together will provide critical insights into which strategy is more viable for practical medicine.
According to Matt Kaeberlein, co-director of the Dog Aging Project, the next five years will likely bring FDA-approved drugs that extend canine lifespan. Whether the first success comes from rapamycin, LOY-002, or another compound entirely, the field is advancing at a pace that was hard to imagine just a decade ago. If these pills deliver on their promise, dogs may become the first species to routinely benefit from anti-aging treatments, opening the door to future applications in human health.
In this sense, the trials mark not only a turning point in veterinary medicine but also a potential paradigm shift in biotechnology. Our pets could be the pioneers in a revolution where aging itself becomes treatable. For dog owners, the possibility of enjoying several more healthy years with their companions is reason enough to be excited. For humanity, the lessons learned from these studies may one day reshape how we think about—and experience—our own lifespans.
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