research

the challenge

Why Biomedical Innovation is Stagnating

Despite technological advancements, biomedical innovation has slowed. Several factors contribute to this stagnation:

Eroom’s Law

The cost of developing a new drug doubles approximately every nine years, despite increasing research investments. Factors such as stringent regulatory requirements, complex clinical trials, and competition from existing treatments contribute to declining productivity.

a close up of a circuit board

High Failure Rates

Only 1.2% of pre-translational drug candidates advance to FDA approval. Disease mechanisms are often multifactorial and poorly understood, leading to unpredictable outcomes and frequent failures in clinical development.

Patent Expirations

The "patent cliff" is projected to cost pharmaceutical companies $236 billion by 2030. This loss of revenue diverts investment away from early-stage, high-risk research, further slowing innovation.

Decline in Disruptive Science

Incremental improvements dominate research rather than paradigm-shifting discoveries. The influence of key opinion leaders can reinforce established but potentially flawed models, limiting the exploration of alternative hypotheses, as seen in Alzheimer’s research.

"Line graphs showing the decline in average CD (combinatorial novelty) over time in research papers and patents across various fields from 1945 to 2010. Left graph displays trends in Life Sciences & Biomedicine, Physical Sciences, Social Sciences, and Technology. Right graph shows trends in Chemical, Computers & Communications, Drugs & Medical, Electrical & Electronic, and Mechanical patents.
a water flowing through a dam

Barriers to Innovation

Limited Predictive Models

Unlike physics and chemistry, biology lacks robust predictive frameworks, leading to a reliance on trial-and-error methodologies in drug discovery.

Inefficient Research Approaches

Many biomedical advances focus on treating symptoms rather than understanding root causes, leading to fragmented solutions with limited long-term impact.

Underutilization of Comparative
and Synthetic Biology

Despite promising insights, fields like comparative biology and synthetic biology remain underfunded and underprioritized due to high costs and resource constraints.

The Case for Aging Biology

Aging is the primary risk factor for many chronic diseases, which collectively account for over 70% of global mortality. Addressing aging mechanisms can provide a more effective strategy for tackling these diseases at their source rather than treating them individually.

Shared Pathways

Many age-related diseases—such as cancer, cardiovascular disorders, and neurodegenerative conditions—arise from common biological mechanisms like chronic inflammation, cellular senescence, and metabolic dysregulation.

Table listing causes of death with corresponding annual deaths (in millions) and percentage of total deaths. Cardiovascular diseases lead with 17.9 million deaths (~32%), followed by cancers at 9.3 million (~17%), and chronic respiratory diseases at 4.1 million (~7%). Other causes include digestive diseases, Alzheimer’s, diabetes, kidney diseases, liver cirrhosis, hypertensive heart disease, and Parkinson’s disease.

Healthspan vs. Lifespan

Medical advancements have increased lifespan but often at the cost of prolonged periods of poor health. A focus on aging biology aims to extend healthspan—the years of life spent in good health.

Demographic Shift

By 2050, the global population over 60 will double to 2.1 billion.Without interventions, the burden on healthcare systems and economies will become unsustainable.

Stacked area chart showing global population growth by age group from 1980 to 2050. Age groups include 0–9 years, 10–24 years, 25–59 years, and 60+ years. The total population increases from about 4.5 billion in 1980 to nearly 10 billion in 2050, with the 60+ age group showing the most significant growth in recent decades.

Economic and Societal Impact

Reduced Healthcare Costs

Addressing aging-related diseases could mitigate projected global healthcare expenditures, estimated to reach $47 trillion by 2030.

Increased Workforce Productivity

Supporting healthy aging allows individuals to remain active contributors to society for longer, reducing dependency ratios.

Lower Caregiver Burden

Reducing the prevalence of chronic age-related conditions decreases the financial and emotional strain on caregivers and families.

View of Earth from space showing the eastern United States at night with city lights illuminated, and the Sun rising over the Atlantic Ocean.
By addressing the biological underpinnings of aging, we can create a more effective framework for tackling the root causes of disease, improving health outcomes, and reducing economic burdens associated with an aging population.

What’s Next?

Learn About Our Approach

read now