Lauren Goode: So it’s not yet to the point where you have a control group of, say, Great Danes or Rottweilers, and one group is on the drugs and they live longer, and another group is on no drugs or they’re on a placebo and they had a shorter life. It’s that you look at specific biomarkers around health span, and so far some of the evidence suggests there’s better health or anti-aging in the dogs that are on drugs?
Celine Halioua: Yes. I wouldn’t call it anti-aging. I would mention, we have improved markers of pathological aging associated with a reduction in quality of life.
Lauren Goode: So is it correct to say that it currently improves the lifespan of dogs? That seems like a leap of faith.
Celine Halioua: We haven’t extended the lifespan of dogs yet, no.
Lauren Goode: OK. But that’s the goal?
Celine Halioua: That’s the goal.
Lauren Goode: How long before you think there is a breakthrough in this field?
Celine Halioua: What do you define as a breakthrough?
Lauren Goode: Would you consider the FDA’s approval of the drug a breakthrough?
Celine Halioua: Yes.
Lauren Goode: And when do you expect this FDA approval to happen?
Celine Halioua: Yeah, so we’re on track, assuming all goes well and it’s all FDA regulated, to have a product that pet parents can buy by 2025.
Lauren Goode: That’s quite remarkable.
Celine Halioua: Yes.
Lauren Goode: This is a bit of a personal question, but what does longevity mean to you personally? When we reported the WIRED story on you, you were 28. Are you still 28, or have you…
Celine Halioua: Yes.
Lauren Goode: OK. So you are 28 years old. You are relatively young in both lives—
Celine Halioua: Hi.
Lauren Goode: … and in the world of tech founders, although the youth are certainly valued in Silicon Valley.
Celine Halioua: I’d say I’m old for a tech founder.
Lauren Goode: Real? Do you feel like this?
Celine Halioua: Not for biotech, but there’s a whole generation of about 20-year-olds here. It’s a bit stressful.
Lauren Goode: What does longevity mean to you?
Celine Halioua: To me, longevity is about freedom of will and reducing the risk of not being able to do what you want to do because your biology is a bit rogue. I am not a life maximalist. I’m not working on immortality. I’ve said it many times, and nothing we’re working on is a path to it. To me, it’s extremely stressful that there are so many illnesses that if you get diagnosed, no one can do anything for you, and a lot of them are age-related illnesses. So it’s really about having a little bit more control over our biology.
Lauren Goode: Have you always been interested in this topic?