Overview
- LOY-002, developed by San Francisco startup Loyal, is being tested in the STAY trial with about 1,300 dogs across roughly 70 veterinary clinics.
- The company reports safety data from more than 400 dogs with no serious side effects, and the FDA has completed two safety reviews.
- The daily beef-flavored pill is intended for dogs aged 10 and older that weigh at least 14 pounds and works by lowering IGF-1, a growth hormone tied to faster aging.
- Loyal says conditional approval could let veterinarians prescribe the drug while studies continue, with a possible launch as early as 2026 and a manufacturing review expected in 2027.
- Researchers caution that proof of added healthy years is not yet available, and success could set a first-of-its-kind precedent for anti-aging drugs in any species.