A startup claims it has found a drug to rejuvenate blood

KUALA LUMPUR, 28 AUGUST 2026 —

Startup Claims Breakthrough in Anti-Aging Treatment, Drawing Global Interest

Generation Lab’s chief executive officer, Alina Su, a 26-year-old entrepreneur, told MIT Technology Review that the company is offering limited access to the treatment through a "private cohort" of trusted individuals, including celebrities and well-known figures. Su described the response as overwhelming, with a long waitlist for the experimental therapy. "This first longevity therapeutic in [the] human body is here and it’s actually working," she said. However, the company has not provided peer-reviewed clinical data to substantiate these claims, raising questions about the scientific rigor behind the treatment.

The startup’s scientific founder, Dr. Irina Conboy, a professor at the University of California, Berkeley, has long been a prominent figure in aging research. Her work on parabiosis—a technique where the circulatory systems of old and young animals are surgically connected—has shown that young blood can reverse some signs of aging in older animals. While parabiosis is impractical for human use, Conboy has spent years searching for a drug-based alternative. Her latest approach involves replacing the plasma of older animals with a neutral solution, which she found to have even stronger rejuvenating effects than young blood exchange. This research led to human trials in 2022, where volunteers underwent therapeutic plasma exchange, a procedure that removes and replaces a significant portion of their blood plasma. Some longevity clinics have since adopted this method as a wellness intervention, charging up to $10,000 per session.

Generation Lab’s 1 Generation drug aims to replicate these benefits without the need for plasma exchange. Conboy and a small group of insiders, including Su and her husband, Dr. Michael Conboy, have reportedly experienced subjective improvements in energy, cognitive function, and physical well-being after taking the drug. Matt Cook, founder of BioReset Medical, a network of longevity-focused clinics, was among those who tried the treatment. Initially skeptical, Cook admitted that the drug produced unexpected effects, including a sense of mental clarity lasting several days. "It was the most surprising thing that ever happened to me," he said. However, he emphasized that the mechanism behind these effects remains unclear, and he has more questions than answers.

Despite the enthusiasm from early participants, experts remain cautious. Dr. Jeffrey Gladden, a longevity physician who adopted plasma exchange after reviewing Conboy’s research, noted that while the results were intriguing, they were not yet backed by clinical evidence. "There was a fairly significant broad set of symptoms that doesn’t really match what either of the drugs do," he said. The lack of transparency regarding the drug’s composition further complicates independent verification. Generation Lab has not disclosed the identities or mechanisms of the two drugs in 1 Generation, leaving scientists and regulators with little to evaluate.

The potential market for an effective anti-aging drug is enormous. If proven, 1 Generation could disrupt the $600 billion global anti-aging industry, which includes supplements, cosmetic procedures, and wellness treatments. However, the longevity sector has a history of overpromising and underdelivering. Companies like Elevian (a Harvard spinout) and Alkahest (affiliated with Stanford) have raised millions to develop age-reversal therapies, particularly for conditions like Alzheimer’s and stroke, but none have yet achieved regulatory approval. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has also flagged some treatments promoted by alternative medicine practitioners, including those offered by Cook’s clinics, as potentially fraudulent.

Malaysia, like many countries, has seen a growing interest in longevity and wellness treatments. The local market for anti-aging products, including stem cell therapies and plasma exchange procedures, has expanded in recent years, driven by both medical tourism and domestic demand. However, the lack of regulatory oversight for many experimental treatments remains a concern. The Malaysian Medical Council has not approved any drug specifically for anti-aging purposes, and the Ministry of Health has warned against unproven therapies. If 1 Generation gains traction globally, Malaysian consumers and healthcare providers may face pressure to evaluate its safety and efficacy.

For now, Generation Lab plans to launch a larger clinical study involving over 100 participants, though the trial will be led by longevity doctors who practice alternative medicine. The company’s approach—offering the drug to insiders before completing rigorous trials—has drawn criticism from scientists who argue that such practices risk undermining legitimate research. Conboy, however, remains optimistic. "This is an awesome screen or experimental system," she said, referring to the testing method her team developed to quickly evaluate potential drug combinations.

The road to commercializing an anti-aging drug is long and fraught with challenges. Even if 1 Generation shows promise in early trials, it will need to undergo years of testing to meet regulatory standards in major markets, including the U.S., Europe, and Asia. For Malaysian stakeholders—from policymakers to healthcare providers—the emergence of such treatments underscores the need for clearer guidelines on experimental therapies. As the global longevity industry evolves, the balance between innovation and patient safety will be critical.

For now, the world watches as Silicon Valley’s latest anti-aging venture unfolds. Whether 1 Generation delivers on its promises—or joins the graveyard of failed longevity treatments—remains to be seen. One thing is certain: the quest to turn back the clock continues, and the stakes have never been higher.

Related: Generation Lab