Dog Longevity Drug Passes FDA

Here's what you need to know...

December 07, 2023

The Truth About This Dog Longevity Drug…

The Rundown

This article by the NYT has been making the rounds, talking about a breakthrough new drug from Loyal, available by 2026 and purporting to extend the life of our pets. Well, this drug just made its way to the FDA, on the path for conditional approval. If it sounds too good to be true, that’s because it is. So we dove into the details. Here are the facts:

  • Loyal’s drug focuses on reducing the amount of a growth hormone called insulin growth factor-1, or IGF-1 that is found in high levels in many large dogs, which some have suspected is the reason they tend to have shorter lifespans than smaller breeds. 

  • Despite the FDA's ruling, there's scant evidence that Loyal’s drug can reliably lengthen the lifespan of dogs. The New York Times noted that there is just one small study indicating that LOY-001 might mitigate some aging-linked metabolic changes, but Loyal has not proven that it actually extends the lives of dogs.

  • Loyal CEO Celine Halioua told the Times that the company aspires to claim a one-year lifespan extension from the drug. 

  • In recent years, the FDA has been empowered by Congress to conditionally approve certain “innovative treatments” for animals that require complex clinical trials, allowing for their accelerated use on “animals and species that have few drugs approved for them”

Final Thoughts

This news is interesting, but not that exciting. It’s not gonna change your life.

I really hate when news like this hits the mainstream. As pet parents, we get pretty emotional and evangelical about stories like this, but 9/10 times it just gets our hopes up. The truth about this drug is that NOT MUCH testing has been done to claim large scale efficacy, and that if all of these facts are true, it would extend the life of your large breed dog by 1 year.

I love that there are people working on stuff like this. But the truth is, we should approach news like this with a healthy skepticism — from “breakthroughs” in food, to ground-breaking scientific studies, to all the products hitting the market.

Pets are BIG BUSINESS…and right now, with the pet industry booming, everyone is trying to cash in.

Vets Say Fears About “Mystery” Dog Illness May Be Overblown. Here’s Why…

According to NPR, everyone’s getting all worked up over this “mystery dog illness.” And tbh, I’m glad someone’s calling this out because every day I wake up to a flurry of tiktoks and news articles that are constantly instilling fear about a “mystery” illness ravaging the nation’s pets AND IT COULD BE COMING FOR YOUR DOG!!!!

The Rundown

  • The lack of a comprehensive surveillance system for infectious diseases in dogs makes it challenging to track and analyze cases accurately.

  • While some researchers have identified a potential new bacterium in New Hampshire, its role in the outbreaks remains uncertain.

  • Veterinarians urge dog owners to take common-sense precautions, such as avoiding contact with sick dogs and ensuring vaccinations are up to date. The uncertainty surrounding the outbreaks emphasizes the need for further research and vigilance in monitoring canine respiratory health.

Final Thoughts

Take a breath, and keep your dog away from other dogs. If they start coughing, head to the vet.

Has your pet, or someone you know's pet gotten this mystery dog illness?

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Why I'm Crying Today:

@nygiants

Storm 🥰🫶 #nygiants #giants #nfl #football #salutetoservice

Just…no to this…

Dear most brands — you do not need a line of dog accessories. Nobody wants it. Love, everybody.

Trends Influencing Growth in the Pet Food Market

Like, I said, the pet industry is currently BOOMING and everyone is trying to cash in. The dominant macro trends across the entire industry are humanization and premiumization. With regards to pet food, that means we’re gonna see innovations in how and what we feed our pets—which we’ve been seeing in the past few years—with better, more natural ingredients, and frictionless subscription services.

The Rundown

Yahoo Finance just summarized the growth of the pet food category, and the trends fueling the growth.

  • Urbanization and changing lifestyles have spurred a preference for smaller dog breeds and apartment-friendly pets, leading to specialized dog food products tailored to their needs.

  • Product innovations promoting health benefits, such as joint health and weight management, have further fueled market growth.

  • Additionally, veterinary-recommended diets have gained prominence among pet owners seeking tailored nutritional solutions.

  • The premiumization of dog food with natural and organic ingredients.

  • Increasing availability of organic products and the inclusion of probiotics and antioxidants.

  • Dry dog food, commonly referred to as kibble, is the prevailing choice of nourishment for dogs globally.

  • As consumers become more conscious of the environmental impact, the demand for plant-based and alternative protein sources in dog food is likely to grow. Personalization and customization will also play a significant role, with pet owners seeking tailored diets to cater to their dogs' individual needs.

  • E-commerce will continue to be a significant distribution channel, enabling both established companies and emerging players to reach a wider global audience.

Final Thoughts

It’s great to see the industry take notice of everything that we as pet parents want and need to properly take care of our pets. Unfortunately right now, the premiumization of the entire industry comes at a steep cost to the pet parents, until competition fuels more innovation, and these companies can lower their prices.

Cause to be honest, I love some of these new raw-food subscription services, but they’re expensive AF.

BRB Moving To The Netherlands

“The Squeeze” aka Dog News In 60 Seconds