Coinbase CEO's NewLimit Raises $130M to Develop Age-Reversing Cell Treatments

NewLimit, a biotechnology startup co-founded by Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong, has secured $130 million in Series B funding led by Kleiner Perkins. This round also saw participation from new investors Nat Friedman, Daniel Gross, and Khosla Ventures, along with returning investors such as Founders Fund, Dimension Capital, Elad Gil, Garry Tan, and Patrick Collison. The fundraising marks a significant milestone for the company, which raised $40 million in its Series A two years ago. Established over four years ago by Armstrong, former GV partner Blake Byers, and stem cell professor Jacob Kimmel, NewLimit aims to extend not just the length of human life but the quality of it by genetically reprogramming cells to reverse aging. Byers, speaking to TechCrunch, highlighted the company's recent breakthroughs, specifically mentioning the discovery of three prototype medicines designed to rejuvenate liver cells. According to Byers, lab experiments have shown that these treatments can restore the cells’ ability to process fat and alcohol, effectively making them behave more like younger cells. The company assesses its progress by comparing the responses of cells from younger individuals and older ones to various substances. For instance, an older liver cell treated with NewLimit's rejuvenation techniques exhibited behavior similar to that of a younger cell, indicating a notable improvement in cellular function. Despite these promising early results, NewLimit is several years away from initiating human trials. In the interim, the company plans to leverage artificial intelligence (AI) to accelerate the development of new anti-aging medications. The AI model conducts simulations of numerous potential drugs, allowing researchers to focus their efforts on the most promising candidates. This iterative process, which Byers refers to as "lab in a loop," involves using data from these experiments to refine and retrain the AI, enhancing its predictive capabilities. NewLimit is not alone in its pursuit of extending human healthspan. Other notable players in the field include Retro Biosciences and Altos Labs. Retro Biosciences, co-founded by OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, raised $180 million two years ago and is currently in talks to secure a $1 billion Series A. Altos Labs, launched in 2022 with a staggering $3 billion in backing from Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, is another major player advancing the science of cellular rejuvenation. The influx of substantial investments into these startups underscores the growing interest and potential in the field of longevity research. As technologies like AI and genetic engineering mature, companies like NewLimit are inching closer to developing therapies that could redefine how we age and, ultimately, how we live.