The startup Retro Biosciences, which received $180 million from investor Sam Altman in 2021, is preparing the first clinical trial of the experimental pill RTR242. The drug is aimed at restoring autophagy, a cellular recycling process that slows down with age and is considered key to maintaining brain health.
By the end of 2025, the first patient in Australia will receive a dose of the new drug. Unlike existing treatments for Alzheimer’s disease, RTR242 not only slows the progression of the disease, but also potentially “rejuvenates” brain cells, returning them to an earlier functional state.
In addition, the startup is developing therapy for the blood and nervous system. A successful trial will help the company attract up to $1 billion in investment to expand research and develop new drugs aimed at prolonging healthy human life.
