BioAge Labs

High-Level Overview

BioAge Labs is a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing therapies for metabolic diseases like obesity, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular disease by targeting the biology of human aging.[1][2][4] Its proprietary human-first platform analyzes over 65 million molecular measurements from 45+ years of longitudinal human data, including omics and health records, to identify novel drug targets for age-related metabolic decline.[1][2][3] The company serves patients with cardiometabolic conditions, addressing unmet needs in an aging population where 988 million live with obesity and 2 billion suffer from related diseases.[1][2]

BioAge's lead program, azelaprag (BGE-102), is an oral APJ agonist entering Phase 2 trials in combination with tirzepatide for obesity in older adults, potentially amplifying weight loss and improving body composition.[2][4] Preclinical programs target additional metabolic aging pathways, with an IND submission anticipated by end-2026 and Phase 1 data for another asset expected in H1 2026.[4] Backed by $491.9 million in funding, BioAge demonstrates strong growth momentum toward IPO.[3][5]

Origin Story

BioAge Labs was co-founded by CEO Kristen Fortney and COO Eric Morgen, with early backing from Pear VC starting in 2015.[5] Fortney, during her postdoc in Professor Stuart Kim’s lab at Stanford Genome Technology Center, studied genetics of extreme human longevity and published extensively on genetics and aging.[5] The idea emerged from her vision to leverage genetic data and machine learning for a therapy discovery platform focused on longevity, initially as a concept before formalizing into BioAge.[5]

Pear VC met Fortney through a mutual founder connection and led the seed round that year, continuing support through Series D.[5] Headquartered in Richmond, CA, the company has evolved from target discovery using human aging cohorts to clinical-stage development, with 51-200 employees and a tech-forward biotech model.[2][5]

Core Differentiators

• Human-first discovery platform: Unbiased analysis of proprietary longitudinal omics data (>65M measurements over 45+ years) from healthy individuals tracking healthspan decline, identifying novel metabolic aging targets across known and untracked biology.[1][2][3]
• Integrated R&D capabilities: Bespoke AI/ML data science for target ID, in-house aged mouse validation core, and end-to-end discovery/development expertise.[1]
• Clinical pipeline focus: Lead asset azelaprag as potential first-in-class oral therapy enhancing incretin-based obesity treatments; preclinical programs on exercise-mimicking apelin pathways.[2][4]
• Talent and culture: Comprehensive benefits, career development budget, diversity emphasis, and equal opportunity policies in a collaborative environment.[2]

Role in the Broader Tech Landscape

BioAge rides the convergence of AI-driven drug discovery, longevity biotech, and the exploding cardiometabolic market, where aging amplifies risks for obesity (988M cases) and related diseases affecting 2B worldwide.[1][4] Timing aligns with GLP-1/incretin booms (e.g., tirzepatide combos) and aging population growth, enabling human-data platforms to outpace traditional animal models.[1][2][5] Market forces like rising metabolic disease prevalence and demand for body composition-focused therapies favor BioAge's apelin/APJ approach, which preclinical data shows doubles weight loss.[2][4]

It influences the ecosystem by validating human longevity cohorts for target ID, inspiring AI-biotech hybrids, and advancing "healthspan" therapies—potentially reshaping obesity treatment beyond weight loss to metabolic aging reversal.[1][5]

Quick Take & Future Outlook

BioAge is poised for inflection with azelaprag Phase 2 readouts, a 2026 IND, and Phase 1 data, accelerating its pipeline from human insights to approved therapies.[2][4] Trends like AI-omics integration, combo regimens with incretins, and longevity investing will propel growth toward IPO, as signaled by its trajectory.[3][5] Its influence may expand by pioneering metabolic aging targets, transforming cardiometabolic care for an aging world and validating data-first biotech models.