SIRT6 gene therapy rejuvenates biological age markers in aging dogs

Genflow Biosciences has met the primary endpoint of its SLAB trial (Sarcopenia and Longevity in Aged Beagles) with results that ripple well beyond veterinary medicine: a centenarian SIRT6 gene therapy demonstrably lowers biological age in dogs over age 10. In the randomized, blinded study of 24 beagles split into four cohorts—two receiving naked DNA at different doses, one a single AAV8 viral vector dose, and saline controls—treated animals showed clear reduction in biological age by the GRIM DNA methylation clock, one of the field's most established tools for measuring how old tissue actually behaves independent of chronological age. Genflow's lead compound, GF-1002, delivers the centenarian SIRT6 variant directly, aiming to restore juvenile function rather than manage symptoms; preliminary data already flagged muscle improvements in February and sustained safety at three-month follow-up. While beagle proof won't settle human regulatory questions, sarcopenia—the muscle loss universal to aging in both species—represents the kind of measurable early evidence the longevity field has lacked, and a credible stepping stone toward human intervention.