Retro Biosciences Valued at $1.8 Billion in New Fundraise

Retro Biosciences, a longevity-focused company backed by OpenAI chief executive Sam Altman, has reached a valuation of $1.8 billion in its latest fundraise, according to STAT News. The report was published on May 22, 2026.

Retro Biosciences is led by chief executive Joe Betts-LaCroix. According to STAT News, the company states that its goal is to add 10 healthy years to the human lifespan. It says it is pursuing several approaches, including in vivo gene therapies, cell replacement therapies, and methods intended to promote younger, healthier cells in aging tissues.

The company is currently running its first clinical trial, which STAT News reports is testing a pill designed to enhance the body's ability to clear protein aggregates in patients with Alzheimer's disease. This is an early-stage study, and no efficacy results have been reported.

Speaking at STAT's Breakthrough Summit West, Betts-LaCroix said the trial was progressing well and that researchers had not observed "any dose-limiting toxicities," according to STAT News. He described the trial as going "super good." Dose-limiting toxicities are side effects severe enough to cap how much of a drug can be given, and their absence at this stage is a safety signal rather than a measure of whether the treatment works. STAT News reports that a data release from the trial is anticipated around August.

The report did not disclose the size of the funding round or name the specific investors participating in it, beyond noting Altman's backing of the company.

Retro Biosciences is one of several well-funded companies in the longevity sector attracting significant private investment. As with other early-stage therapeutic programs, the results of its clinical trial remain unknown until the data are reported and reviewed. Prospective patients should note that experimental treatments studied in early trials have not been shown to be safe or effective for general use, and readers should consult qualified medical professionals before making health decisions.

This article summarizes reporting by STAT News. Figures, quotes, and details are attributed to that source and reflect the information available as of its publication date.