Imagine a world where your liver works like it did in your 20s, even when you’re 70. That’s the dream NewLimit is chasing.
The biotech startup just raised a whopping $130 million to push its age-reversal science agenda forward.
This round was led by Kleiner Perkins, a major name in tech funding. New backers like Nat Friedman, Daniel Gross, and Khosla Ventures joined the party, too.
Several early investors, including Founders Fund, Garry Tan, and Patrick Collison, came back for more.
From Cryptocurrency to Cell Reprogramming
Brian Armstrong, CEO of Coinbase, is known for shaking up the finance world. But four years ago, he teamed up with stem cell expert Jacob Kimmel and former GV partner Blake Byers to tackle something even more ambitious: aging.
Together, they launched NewLimit, a company focused on reprogramming human cells to make them act younger. Sounds like science fiction? Maybe. But they’re already showing early results that are turning heads.
What Is NewLimit Really Doing?
At its core, NewLimit is trying to turn back the clock at the cellular level. By using genetic tools and AI, the company is developing drugs that can “rejuvenate” old cells, making them behave like young ones again.
Their first target? Liver cells.
Why the liver? Because it plays a critical role in processing fat and alcohol, two functions that slow down with age.
In lab tests, NewLimit found that its prototype medicines helped old liver cells regain these abilities and act young again.
How Does It Work?
NewLimit uses an AI model to simulate thousands of potential treatments and picks the most promising ones. Then it tests those in the lab and uses the results to help retrain the AI in what’s called a “lab-in-a-loop” system.
This smart cycle helps them move faster and learn quicker. Think of it like teaching a dog new tricks.
The AI throws out a bunch of ideas, NewLimit tests which ones work, and then the AI gets “smarter” for next time.
Not Quite Ready for Human Trials
Even though the lab work looks promising, NewLimit isn’t ready to start human testing. That could still be a few years away.
For now, they’re laser-focused on refining their AI models and expanding their drug library.
And thanks to this new funding, they plan to keep their labs running full steam, and hopefully get one step closer to real-world results.
Also read: 11 Advanced AI Applications in Healthcare: Success Stories
