Blog
Loyal’s Series C: $100M to advance the first longevity drug
Today we announced Loyal's $100M Series C. Hear from our Founder & CEO Celine Halioua on what this milestone means for Loyal and the advancement of the first longevity drug.
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Aging thesis
13 articles
Featured
Publication
Can science actually make your dog live longer? The Purina study
Caloric restriction has been shown to extend dogs’ lifespans and improve their metabolic health, demonstrating that aging can be slowed — and we can do something about it. This knowledge drives research into more practical ways to achieve these benefits.
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For owners
For vets
Publication highlight: What lab values tell us about dogs’ frailty and quality of life
Our study has been published in Scientific Reports, generating the first-ever data to connect markers of metabolic aging to real-world clinical outcomes in dogs.
For vets
The power of big datasets
We collaborated with Banfield Pet Hospital to analyze the health records of 131,140 dogs in search of risk factors for age-related diseases
For owners
For vets
You and your dog share similarities in your blood: Exploring markers of aging
James is a Senior Scientist at Loyal who recently presented our findings in aging biomarkers at the Keystone Symposium 2023 conference. Here he explains how these biomarkers can help us better understand — and ultimately affect — the processes underlying aging
Publication
Vet education recap: Resources for canine geriatric medicine
Dr. Brennen McKenzie often teaches continuing education courses around canine aging, and he shares resources that include foundational material on aging, clinical assessment tools, and guidelines to assist vets in creating treatment plans for senior dogs.
For vets
How scientists measure aging through Healthspan, frailty and quality of life
Our Healthspan study results have been published in GeroScience. Let’s dive into the results.
Publication
Why are modern dog breeds so different from one another?
Does your dog have floppy ears or pointy ears, or maybe something in-between? History and biology explain why dogs come in all colors, patterns, shapes, and sizes.
Signs of senior years: looking old, feeling old, and acting old
Do you ever wonder how your dog might look, feel, or act as they advance in age? Understanding aging gives us the potential to prevent or mitigate a wide range of age-related health problems in dogs.
Healthspan: the healthy prime of life
Lifespan is the amount of time lived. Healthspan is the time lived with vigor and good health. Which do you think is more important?
Dogs are great models for aging biology
Dogs age a lot like humans, though sadly much faster. Helping us to better understand our own aging is just one of the many gifts our canine best friends give us.
Is aging inevitable?
Like death and taxes, aging has long been seen as unavoidable. Science is now showing us that this may not be true.
Why do dogs age?
There are many theories about how aging works. Lat’s take a brief look at two: Wear & Tear and the Rate of Living.
Senior dog science
7 articles
One step closer to a dog longevity drug: What LOY-002’s safety milestone means to a practicing vet
The FDA recently accepted the Target Animal Safety (TAS) submission for LOY-002, our drug in development for senior dog lifespan extension. Our Director of Veterinary Medicine, Brennen McKenzie, explains what this milestone means for senior dogs and the people who care for them.
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For owners
For vets
What Loyal’s LOY-002 RXE milestone means: A practicing vet’s perspective
We’re excited by our progress towards FDA conditional approval at Loyal – but what does it mean for vets? Dr. Brennen McKenzie explains the impact of LOY-002’s progress on his patients’ care and what it means for vets everywhere.
Featured
For vets
The science behind lifespan extension: Metabolic dysfunction
As your dog ages, their metabolic health declines. This can undermine your dog’s quality of life and lead to multiple age-related diseases. Slowing or even reversing the loss of metabolic health can extend lifespan and maintain quality of life.
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Metabolic health
Publication highlight: What lab values tell us about dogs’ frailty and quality of life
Our study has been published in Scientific Reports, generating the first-ever data to connect markers of metabolic aging to real-world clinical outcomes in dogs.
For vets
How’s the STAY study going? Here’s an update from the vet who designed it.
Dr. Ellen Ratcliff led the design of the STAY study over two years ago. Now that we’re almost a year into the study, she’s back with an update on the impact it’s making across the industry.
STAY study
Meet Boo — the first dog dosed in our LOY-002 pivotal study for extending healthy lifespan in dogs of nearly all sizes
The STAY study will span more than 50 sites across the country, with 1,000 senior dogs participating
STAY study
Obesity and epigenetics
One of the most important health problems in veterinary medicine today is the epidemic of obesity in our pets.
Big dog science
3 articles
FDA Center for Veterinary Medicine agrees Loyal’s data supports reasonable expectation of effectiveness for large dog lifespan extension
A historic milestone in developing the first drug for healthy lifespan extension in dogs
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Why do big dogs have unusually short lifespans compared to small dogs?
Dogs come in an astounding range of shapes and sizes. Explore how genetic differences impact age and how Loyal is working on extending the lives and health of large dogs.
Aging and evolution
If evolution means survival of the fittest, shouldn’t animals evolve to stay healthy and live forever? Unfortunately, the evolutionary race goes to the most fertile, not the most enduring.
Developing drugs
6 articles
What is FDA conditional approval?
Expanded conditional approval is a new regulatory pathway that allows drugs to go to market more quickly, with the same rigorous safety standards.
Featured
The STAY study finishes enrollment: A big day for dog-kind!
Dr. Ellen Ratcliff, our VP of Clinical and Veterinary Medicine
STAY study
How’s the STAY study going? Here’s an update from the vet who designed it.
Dr. Ellen Ratcliff led the design of the STAY study over two years ago. Now that we’re almost a year into the study, she’s back with an update on the impact it’s making across the industry.
STAY study
Same drugs, different species: How the effects of drugs vary between dogs and humans
Many medications are used for both dogs and humans, but their effects can be quite different. Curious about why the effects vary so much between species? Dr. Brennen McKenzie teaches us about these fascinating differences.
For owners
Meet Boo — the first dog dosed in our LOY-002 pivotal study for extending healthy lifespan in dogs of nearly all sizes
The STAY study will span more than 50 sites across the country, with 1,000 senior dogs participating
STAY study
Clinical trials in the real world: One practitioner’s perspective
Why I’d love to see general practitioners participate in clinical research: 5 compelling reasons from a former GP
For vets
Dog health
17 articles
Featured
Publication
New year, new dog! 5 essential health tips for your dog in 2025
Whether you’re a seasoned dog parent or a new puppy owner, 2025 is the perfect opportunity to enhance your dog’s health and well-being.
Featured
For owners
6 tips for traveling with your (senior) dog this holiday season
Seasoned dog travelers at Loyal have taken their four dogs on a collective 50 trips. They give advice on keeping your dog calm, happy, and healthy when on-the-go, with special tips for senior dogs.
For owners
What to include in senior dog wellness exams: 5 clinical assessments for vets
Dr. Lisa Lippman, Dr. Monica Tarantino, and Dr. Lauren Adelman are leading experts in senior canine care and are co-founders of the Senior and Geriatric Dog Society (SAGDS). Their five proposed health assessments for senior dogs are essential for vets to identify early disease and behavioral problems and will establish a database for successive evaluations.
For vets
Great Danes and granddads: How 'one medicine' is redefining healthy longevity
Because our dogs share our environments and age like we do, we can learn about ourselves through our canine best friends — this is called translational medicine. Read about how the connection between us and our dogs can improve the health of both species.
For owners
Drugs and dietary supplements for dogs: What’s the difference?
Did you know there are several categories of medicines that your vet chooses from when prescribing a treatment to your dog? Each option comes with a different amount of evidence regarding risks and benefits. The FDA offers guidelines to help weigh the benefits and risks, making it easier for you and your vet to choose the right treatment.
How old is your dog, really? Predicting age through methylation
We know biological samples can tell us about our dog’s health and breed ancestry, but is the saliva in your dog’s mouth enough to tell us your dog’s age and birthday? The answer is, in some ways, yes.
Ancestry & DNA: decipher the biology behind your dog’s family tree
Each participant in the X-Thousand Dogs Study will receive a report with information about their dog’s ancestry. In this post, Loyal’s Dr. John Lindo, who specializes in ancient DNA and canine evolution, explains how our understanding of the relationships between species has changed over time and what a DNA test can—and cannot—reveal about your dog’s ancestors.
What is DNA methylation and how does it help us understand longevity?
DNA methylation is a useful tool for assessing health and longevity—both in dogs and humans. Loyal scientists are studying aging through the lens of DNA methylation and epigenetics.
Your dog may be sharing bacteria with you. But that’s a good thing!
How are dogs like probiotics? Well, they’re cuter and furrier, but they also change our microbiome and can even reduce our risk of allergies! Let’s investigate how dogs influence our microbiome and our immune systems.
How to help your dog lose weight and improve their quality of life
Discussing weight and how it impacts our dog’s health is important to how we think about our dog’s aging and quality of life. Here are practical tips and evidence-based advice to help your dog get to their healthiest weight.
How movement and exercise in dogs promotes longevity and healthier aging
How does movement impact longevity? Can physical activity help my dog live longer? Here’s how exercise maintains good health and slows aging.
Dog enrichment activities: Healthy brains and happy dogs
Exercise and enrichment activities can help you protect your dog against the effects of brain aging.
Should you zoom call your dog?
There are now lots of devices that let us call our dogs and say “Hi!” when we aren’t at home. But are these really for our dogs, or just for us?
Yes, dogs really can read facial expressions
Sometimes our dogs seem to read us like an open book! How do they know just how we are feeling? It turns out, our faces are a clear window into our emotions for our canine friends.
Talking to your dog?
Dogs are exceptionally good at understanding humans; better than any animal outside our own species. But when we talk to them, we give a lot of information besides just words.
Can your dog catch your yawn?
Humans are not the only animals to yawn. Fish, birds and mammals all yawn too. And, of course, so do our favorite animals here at Loyal!
Loyal news
16 articles
One step closer to a dog longevity drug: What LOY-002’s safety milestone means to a practicing vet
The FDA recently accepted the Target Animal Safety (TAS) submission for LOY-002, our drug in development for senior dog lifespan extension. Our Director of Veterinary Medicine, Brennen McKenzie, explains what this milestone means for senior dogs and the people who care for them.
Featured
For owners
For vets
Not just for big dogs! Our senior dog program receives preliminary FDA efficacy acceptance (RXE)
We’ve reached a new major milestone for our senior dog program, LOY-002, intended to extend lifespan in dogs over 10 years and weighing 14 lb or more. Our Founder and CEO Celine reflects on feedback and progress so far.
Featured
For owners
The STAY study finishes enrollment: A big day for dog-kind!
Dr. Ellen Ratcliff, our VP of Clinical and Veterinary Medicine
STAY study
Inside Loyal: Meet the team
At Loyal, everything we do comes down to one thing: giving dogs more healthy time. But behind the science, research, and innovation is an incredible team of passionate people making it all happen
Breaking records: the STAY study enrolls 1,000 dogs
Our Sr. Director of Clinical Operations shares our progress in the STAY study — and what’s coming next for the first longevity clinical trial.
For owners
For vets
STAY study
A toast to 2024: Big steps forward in dog longevity
Founder and CEO Celine Halioua highlights Loyal's accomplishments from 2024 as we work towards bringing out first dog longevity drug to market next year.
Linda Rhodes joins the Loyal Board of Directors
Loyal Founder and CEO Celine Halioua introduces our newest Board member, Linda Rhodes, DVM, PhD
$125M to extend dog lifespan
Today we are announcing Loyal’s $45M Series B. Thank you, Wall Street Journal, for the excellent piece. This round brings Loyal’s total financing to over $125M. It is the honor of a lifetime to build Loyal with this team of scientists, veterinarians, creatives, operators, animal lovers, and investors.
Fetch KC recap: the questions so burning, curious vets stand in line to ask them
A quick read from Dr. Ellen reflecting on her time spent talking with veterinary professionals about Loyal at a recent veterinary conference
Announcing our partnership with Crinetics Pharmaceuticals
Big implications for big dogs — and possibly humans, too
Approved drugs for veterinary patients are on a roll, y’all (why that’s got me in my feelings)
Take a trip down memory lane with me and celebrate recent wins in veterinary pharmaceutical development.
Our LOY-002 clinical pilot study is now fully enrolled
More momentum to share on our path to bringing dog longevity drugs to patients!
Loyal’s latest milestone: the first longevity clinical study design supported by the FDA
At Loyal we’re developing the first FDA-approved drugs explicitly intended to extend lifespan and healthspan, and being first means charting new waters.
Blake Scholl joins the Loyal Board of Directors
Loyal Founder and CEO, Celine Halioua, introduces the newest addition to our Board of Directors
Two Loyal-nominated compounds selected for the National Institute on Aging Interventions Testing Program
This collaboration will test the effectiveness of two important pro-longevity mechanisms and support development of aging drugs for dogs and beyond.
Quantifying the Aging Process: Loyal in-licenses mouse-canine-human homogeneous epigenetic clock from UCSD
Loyal is developing an epigenetic clock to quantify biological aging in mice, dogs, and humans, spun out of the Ideker Laboratory at UCSD. This tech will support Loyal’s development of aging drugs for dogs and beyond.