Year in review

2026 in longevity

Notable publications, trial readouts, drug approvals, and shifts in the longevity-science conversation. Updated as the year progresses; this page is an evolving synthesis rather than a complete list.

Major trial readouts and FDA actions

• SURMOUNT-OSA full publication: tirzepatide roughly halves AHI in obese OSA, reframing OSA as substantially a metabolic disease. See SURMOUNT, sleep apnea.
• SUMMIT (tirzepatide HFpEF): positive composite-endpoint reduction. See heart failure.
• FLOW: semaglutide reduced kidney + CV events in T2D CKD by 24%. See FLOW.
• Resmetirom (Rezdiffra) for MASH: first FDA- approved disease-modifying drug for fatty liver with significant fibrosis. See NAFLD/MASLD.
• Donanemab and lecanemab competitionin anti-amyloid therapy for early Alzheimer’s, with continued debate over benefit magnitude vs ARIA risk. See Alzheimer’s.

Notable publications

• Multiple papers extending the López-Otín et al. 2023 12-hallmarks framework with new candidate hallmarks (splicing dysregulation, others). See hallmarks.
• Continued growth in partial-reprogramming studies from Altos, NewLimit, Retro, Turn.bio. See partial reprogramming.
• Refinements to organ-aging plasma-proteomic clocks. See Tony Wyss-Coray.
• Loyal’s LOY-002 received the FDA-CVM’s "reasonable expectation of effectiveness" path for lifespan extension in dogs — a first for the agency. See Loyal.

Shifts in the public conversation

• Metformin enthusiasm has continued to moderate after exercise-interaction concerns. See metformin.
• GLP-1 agonists have moved from "diabetes drug" to a central longevity-medicine class with cardiovascular, kidney, sleep apnea, and likely cognitive-disease applications. See GLP-1 agonists.
• Lipoprotein(a)-lowering siRNA and antisense drugs continue toward outcome-trial readouts. See Lp(a).
• The Hevolution Foundation has become the largest single funder in geroscience — structurally changing what research can be pursued. See Hevolution Foundation.

What to watch in 2026 H2 and 2027

• TAME-trial funding and design finalisation.
• ORION-4 inclisiran cardiovascular outcomes readout.
• LEV Foundation combination-intervention mouse-lifespan readouts.
• Next wave of partial-reprogramming pre-clinical disclosures.
• Continued GLP-1 / GIP class expansion (CagriSema, retatrutide).
• FDA decisions on emerging Lp(a) lowering agents.