# Retro Biosciences

> Retro Biosciences is a clinical-stage longevity biotech in Redwood City, California with a single, unsubtle goal: add ten healthy years to the human lifespan. Founded in 2018 and launched publicly in 2021 with $180 million from OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, the company attacks aging at the cellular level across three platforms - autophagy enhancement, cellular reprogramming, and plasma-inspired therapeutics. Its lead drug, RTR242, an autophagy-restoring small molecule aimed at Alzheimer's disease, entered a first-in-human Phase 1 trial in 2025. A 2026 raise valued Retro at $1.8 billion.

- **Founded:** 2018
- **Headquarters:** Redwood City, California, United States
- **Founders:** Joe Betts-LaCroix (Co-Founder & CEO), Sheng Ding (Co-Founder (Scientific); UCSF / Gladstone professor), Matt Buckley (Co-Founder)
- **Team size:** ~90-100 employees
- **Products:** RTR242, Autophagy enhancement, Cellular reprogramming, Plasma-inspired therapeutics
- **Notable:** Became a clinical-stage company in 2025 by dosing the first human with RTR242, Raised a $180M seed entirely from Sam Altman - one of the largest single-investor seed rounds in biotech, Reached a $1.8 billion valuation by 2026

## Products & services

- **RTR242** — Lead clinical-stage small-molecule drug that restores lysosomal function and autophagy - the cell's waste-clearance system - to clear toxic protein aggregates. Aimed at Alzheimer's disease; entered a Phase 1 first-in-human safety trial in 2025 in Adelaide, Australia.
- **Autophagy enhancement** — Platform focused on restoring the cell's ability to recycle damaged proteins and organelles, which declines with age and in neurodegeneration.
- **Cellular reprogramming** — In vivo and ex vivo partial reprogramming using Yamanaka-factor biology to push aged cells toward a more youthful state, including T cell and hematopoietic stem cell reprogramming and microglia replacement ('micro replacement').
- **Plasma-inspired therapeutics** — Therapies that leverage beneficial components of blood plasma (plasmapheresis-inspired approaches) to promote rejuvenation and counter aging-related decline.

## Achievements

- Became a clinical-stage company in 2025 by dosing the first human with RTR242
- Raised a $180M seed entirely from Sam Altman - one of the largest single-investor seed rounds in biotech
- Reached a $1.8 billion valuation by 2026
- Advanced a first-in-human Alzheimer's-focused trial with no dose-limiting toxicities reported
- Built a vertically integrated R&D platform spanning autophagy, reprogramming, and plasma therapeutics

## Latest updates

- **2026-05** — Disclosed a new fundraise valuing the company at $1.8 billion; CEO reported the Alzheimer's Phase 1 trial progressing well with data expected in August 2026.
- **2026-01** — Began a Phase 1 safety trial for its autophagy-promoting candidate RTR242.
- **2025-12** — Reported to be chasing a roughly $5 billion valuation as it scales its longevity programs.
- **2025-01** — Reported raising a ~$1 billion Series A, with Sam Altman participating and financier Sandro Salsano joining the board.

## Links

- Website: https://retro.bio
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/retro-biosciences
- Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/RetroBio_

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Last updated: 2026-06-13