Genflow Biosciences is developing gene therapy designed to extend dogs’ healthy lifespans, placing the company among biotechnology businesses exploring treatments for age-related conditions in companion animals.
Interest in pet longevity is increasing as researchers and companies investigate ways to help dogs and cats live longer, healthier lives. Recent coverage of the sector has drawn attention to potential treatments ranging from medicines targeting age-related diseases to gene therapies intended to address the biological processes associated with ageing.
Genflow’s programme focuses on its proprietary SIRT6 gene therapy, which is being investigated for its potential to reduce age-related muscle loss, known as sarcopenia, and improve longevity in dogs. The company is also researching the potential application of its SIRT6 technology to human age-related diseases.
A key part of its work is the SLAB clinical trial, which involved 24 beagles aged over 10 years. The randomised, blinded study assessed the safety and potential effectiveness of the treatment in older dogs, using different treatment groups alongside a control group.
In September 2026, Genflow announced that the trial had met its primary endpoint, measuring a reduction in biological age using the GRIM methylation clock. The company reported a clear improvement signal in treated animals compared with the control group. Additional improvements were also reported across functional and observable secondary measures.
The findings represent progress for the company’s canine gene therapy programme, although the results should not be interpreted as proof that the treatment extends dogs’ lifespans. The Cryptopolitan report also drew attention to the limitations of the small study and the need to distinguish improvements in biological age markers from demonstrated increases in lifespan.
The wider market is also attracting attention. Other biotechnology businesses are investigating gene therapies for canine heart disease and treatments for age-related conditions in cats, including muscle loss and kidney disease. The developments reflect growing interest in veterinary medicine that targets ageing and healthspan rather than treating individual illnesses alone.
Genflow Biosciences plc (LON:GENF, OTCQB:GENFF, FRA:WQ5) is a UK-based biotech firm with R&D facilities in Belgium focused on developing novel therapeutic approaches that potentially halt or slow the aging process in humans and dogs supporting longer, healthier lives
