Human Longevity

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Human Longevity, Inc. is a San Diego-based venture launched by Craig Venter and Peter Diamandis in 2013. Its goal is to build the world's most comprehensive database on human genotypes and phenotypes, and then subject it to machine learning so that it can help develop new ways to fight diseases associated with aging. [1] The company received US$80 million in investments in its Series A offering in summer 2014 and announced a further $220 million Series B investment offering in April 2016. [2] It has made deals with drug companies Celgene and AstraZeneca to collaborate in its research.[ citation needed ]

Contents

Overview

While it is conducting research, the company is offering a wellness service known as "Health Nucleus," which offers customers a range of medical tests such as a full genome sequencing and tests for early indications of cancers, Alzheimer's and heart disease. [3] This testing is meant to help people catch diseases earlier than otherwise possible and to identify risk factors for diseases later in life. [4]

At the start of 2017, the company hired Cynthia Collins from GE Healthcare, and Venter became Executive Chair. The company's chief operating officer, Mark Winham, left the company in mid-2017, and Collins and the company's chief medical officer, Brad Perkins, left in December. Venter stepped back into the CEO role, but announced in May 2018 that he was leaving the company to return to the J. Craig Venter Institute. [5] Venter was sued for allegedly 'stealing trade secrets' at Human Longevity. [6] The case has been dismissed. [7]

In November 2019, Human Longevity closed $30 million financing from Emerging Technology Partners (ETP) and other leading healthcare investors to renew its commitment to longevity and precision health. [8]

In November 2019, C. Thomas Caskey, professor of molecular & human genetics at the Baylor College of Medicine, joined the company as Chief Medical Officer. [9]

In January 2020, Human Longevity published a study in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) that showed that by integrating whole-genome sequencing with advanced imaging and blood metabolites, clinicians identified adults at risk for key health conditions. [10]

In June 2020, Human Longevity launched a proprietary program called 100+ longevity program. The program claims to combine the most advanced technologies with a dedicated medical team to help people achieve their healthiest and longest life. [11]

In June 2022, Human Longevity announced an initial public offering through a SPAC, with a valuation of $1 billion. [12]

See also

Related Research Articles

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John Craig Venter is an American biotechnologist and businessman. He is known for leading one of the first draft sequences of the human genome and assembled the first team to transfect a cell with a synthetic chromosome. Venter founded Celera Genomics, the Institute for Genomic Research (TIGR) and the J. Craig Venter Institute (JCVI). He was the co-founder of Human Longevity Inc. and Synthetic Genomics. He was listed on Time magazine's 2007 and 2008 Time 100 list of the most influential people in the world. In 2010, the British magazine New Statesman listed Craig Venter at 14th in the list of "The World's 50 Most Influential Figures 2010". In 2012, Venter was honored with Dan David Prize for his contribution to genome research. He was elected to the American Philosophical Society in 2013. He is a member of the USA Science and Engineering Festival's advisory board.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">J. Craig Venter Institute</span> Non-profit genomics research institute

The J. Craig Venter Institute (JCVI) is a non-profit genomics research institute founded by J. Craig Venter, Ph.D. in October 2006. The institute was the result of consolidating four organizations: the Center for the Advancement of Genomics, The Institute for Genomic Research (TIGR), the Institute for Biological Energy Alternatives, and the J. Craig Venter Science Foundation Joint Technology Center. It has facilities in Rockville, Maryland and San Diego, California.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Human Genome Sciences</span> Former American pharmaceutical company, acquired by GlaxoSmithKline.

Human Genome Sciences (HGS) was a biopharmaceutical corporation founded in 1992 by Craig Venter, Alan Walton and Wally Steinberg. It uses the human DNA sequence to develop protein and antibody drugs. It had drugs under development to treat such diseases as hepatitis C, systemic lupus erythmatosis, anthrax, and cancer. It collaborated with other biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies for development partnerships and licensing.

deCODE genetics is a biopharmaceutical company based in Reykjavík, Iceland. The company was founded in 1996 by Kári Stefánsson with the aim of using population genetics studies to identify variations in the human genome associated with common diseases, and to apply these discoveries "to develop novel methods to identify, treat and prevent diseases."

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Archon X Prize</span> Award

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Charles Thomas Caskey, also known as C. Thomas Caskey, was an American internist who has been a medical Geneticist and biomedical researcher and entrepreneur. He was a Professor of Molecular and Human Genetics at Baylor College of Medicine, and served as editor of the Annual Review of Medicine from 2001 to 2019. He was a member of the editorial boards of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Science, the Encyclopedia of Molecular Medicine and numerous other medical and scientific journals.

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References

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  6. "Genomics Company Human Longevity Sues J. Craig Venter Institute". The Scientist Magazine®.
  7. "Human Longevity Suit Against JCVI Dismissed". GenomeWeb. 20 December 2018.
  8. "Human Longevity Closes $30 Million Financing From Emerging Technology Partners and Other Leading Healthcare Investors to Renew Its Commitment to Longevity and Precision Health". BioSpace. November 6, 2019. Retrieved 2024-05-14.
  9. "World Expert in Genetics Joins Human Longevity as Chief Medical Officer". Business Wire. 13 November 2019.
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  12. Leo, Leroy (20 June 2022). "Human Longevity plans to go public in $1 bln blank-check deal". Reuters. Retrieved 6 January 2024.