Are GLP-1s the first longevity drugs? - Nature 2025
This Nature Biotechnology article (1) discusses presentations from the Aging Research and Drug Discovery meeting in Copenhagen, where experts from Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly proposed that GLP-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1s), commonly used for obesity and type 2 diabetes, could emerge as the first true longevity drugs. These medications have demonstrated strong efficacy in reducing comorbidities like heart disease, stroke, heart failure, kidney disease, liver disease, osteoarthritis, and sleep apnea, especially in high-risk individuals with metabolic conditions. Key Background Aging involves a systemic decline due to accumulated damage outweighing repair processes, with 14 identified hallmarks (e.g., genetic instability, epigenetic changes, mitochondrial dysfunction). Longevity drugs aim to target these pathways to prevent multiple age-related diseases and extend healthspan (healthy lifespan) rather than just lifespan. Past candidates like sirtuin activators, senolytics, metformin, and rap...