Our Encounter with Loyal, the Pet Life Extension Pharma Company
Attending the VMX Veterinary Show in Orlando this January was a valuable experience. Being invited as press gave us a chance to meet many knowledgeable people, representing a broad spectrum of the animal health world. As usual, our focus was on nutrition, which is our realm within the pet care universe. It was gratifying to connect with others who are just as passionate about improving the lives of companion animals as we are.
Anyone who’s deeply invested in animal health—or even casual news followers—has likely heard about the latest life-extension drug for pets in development by Loyal. People may not know the name of the company (yet!), but Loyal’s PR has certainly made an impact. We specifically sought them out at the show to learn more about their research, the progress they have made, and when their treatments might become available to the public.
The folks at Loyal were welcoming and professional. We had a great conversation with a young representative at their booth who was knowledgeable about the company and its research. They provided us with literature and—interestingly—a pair of socks. An unusual choice for a company developing a longevity drug, but hey, warm comfy socks definitely add to the quality of life, if not the length! Their booth was modest in size, especially when compared to massive displays from the dominant players in animal health selling drugs for flea, tick, and worm prevention. And honestly, what’s not to like about a company choosing to be called “Loyal?”
The desire to extend life—whether for us or our pets—is nothing new. From the mythical Fountain of Youth to today’s cutting-edge longevity research, people have always searched for ways to extend life. That desire has also been directed toward animals, including in some controversial ways, such as the cloning of dogs and cats. This is not science fiction but a reality that’s happening today. As unsettling as that may seem, who are we to judge if someone wants their beloved pet to live another life? The ancient Egyptians and other historic civilizations buried or mummified their companion animals alongside their humans. Others choose to treasure their pets through portraits and sculptures. Tributes and memorials to animals are among the most beloved genres in literature and film, rendering a sort of artistic immortality to those stars of the page and screen.
Loyal’s drugs aim to extend the lifespan of dogs by addressing the “overexpression” of two metabolic factors, IGF-1 (insulin-like growth factor) and GH (growth hormone), which are believed to accelerate aging in larger-breed dogs. These drugs are in clinical trials, and all indications are that Loyal is on track for approval of the drug within the next two years.
And while this drug is currently focused on dogs, it’s easy to imagine a future where similar treatments are marketed for cats, horses, birds, or even reptiles. After all, losing a beloved pet is one of the hardest things we go through, and since most animals don’t live nearly as long as we do, this is a painful reality that we humans experience many times within our lifespans. And let’s not be naïve; if this technology can be proven effective with dogs or other animals, Loyal might just be using the canine drug as a “Trojan Horse” to introduce similar drugs for human life extension.
We’ve written about this topic from a different angle in our short piece, A Cat’s Lifespan, where we explored how animals experience time differently than we do. Science may one day give us tools to extend life, but we believe just as strongly that what we do every day to care for our animals is just as important—if not more so—than any pharmaceutical breakthrough.
The Appeal of the “Magic Pill”
The idea of a pill or injection that extends life is tempting. Who wouldn’t want a little extra time with their best friend? But is it really that simple?
For decades, those of us dedicated to superior nutrition and holistic health care for pets have emphasized that real health and the potential for longer lives is already here. But it doesn’t come from a pill bottle or hypodermic syringe. It’s built daily through feeding high-quality, biologically appropriate food, using the right supplements, keeping pets active, and through the power of love. Our concern is that when a drug like this becomes available, will our “instant gratification” society embrace it as a presumptive shortcut to longer lives for pets, but at the expense of following the path of a holistically integrative approach to better health through nutrition? Will it become a crutch instead of a complement to proper care?
Big Pharma, Big Money?
Pharmaceutical companies for humans and pets have made life-saving advancements, no doubt about it. But they’re also mega-businesses, with shareholders who need to see returns on investment. History shows that new drugs often come with exorbitant price tags. In the case of drugs for humans, at least there’s a pathway through the health insurance system to provide these drugs to those who can’t afford them. It’s far less likely that pet health insurance will cover the high cost of experimental new drugs.
None of the discussions about Loyal’s new “miracle drug” include cost estimates, and we admit that we didn’t ask. Perhaps those cool new socks distracted us from our journalistic duty. But common sense tells us that, if approved, Loyal’s drugs certainly won’t be cheap, especially in their early release phase. Our fear is that this will create a bifurcation between the ‘haves” and the “have nots,” in which privileged pets will have access to anti-aging therapies, while those living more modestly are excluded.
Side Effects
Do we truly understand the science of aging enough to intervene safely, or are we jumping ahead without knowing the long-term risks? Unlike us, pets don’t get to weigh the pros and cons of a new drug. That choice falls entirely on pet parents, which makes it even more important that we ask hard questions before embracing a new treatment.
The Bigger Picture: Quality vs. Quantity
Extending life isn’t just about more time—it’s about good time. An extra year or two means little if those years are filled with new health issues, mobility struggles, or unintended consequences of pharmaceutical intervention. That’s why we believe that our focus should stay on the fundamentals: nutrition, exercise, mental stimulation, and a strong human-animal bond. The best “longevity drug” isn’t in a pill or injection—it’s in the choices we make for our pets every day.
Proceed With Caution
We’re not against progress, and we’re not hypocrites. We have a nine-year-old large-breed dog who we adore, and we would certainly consider this treatment if research proves it to be safe and effective, if we could afford it. When it is proven that Loyal’s drug—or the inevitable spinoffs from this technology- can truly extend healthy lifespans for companion animals without major downsides, we’ll be as excited as anyone. But until then, we should be careful not to fall into the trap of chasing easy answers while neglecting what we already know works.
Our 30 years in the field of natural nutrition and holistic health for animals have proven to us that the “prescription” for the best possible life for companion animals is the following:
- Feed the highest quality, biologically appropriate food and treats. Don’t feed carnivores as if they were herbivores;
- Use naturally derived nutraceutical supplements to augment specific functionalities such as bone and joint strength, healthy skin and coats, gut and immune health, dental health, and other functions. Avoid synthetic supplements and yes, limit pharmaceuticals to when they are truly necessary. Nature’s storehouse is the best “drugstore!”
- Seek proper veterinary care from practitioners who not only have the knowledge, experience and skills to care for your animal companions, but the compassion and desire to communicate with you as partners in maintaining your animal’s health and quality of life. The best vet is the one that works with you and is accessible. You don’t need a high-profile “superstar” or “celebrity vet.”
- Regardless of their legal status, we humans don’t “own” animals. We are their guardians and stewards of our companions and of all animals, not their “owners.” aside you don’t own your animals you are the steward of their loving and healing power of the human/animal bond undoubtedly contribute to the best quality of life for companion animals of any species. and to millions of conscientious animal caregivers animal other And we know Longer life is only valuable if it’s a good life. And that responsibility is on us—not on a pill, an injection, or the latest scientific breakthrough.
By Anthony Bennie and Amanda Malone Bennie, Co-Founders of Clear Conscience Pet®
