If you’ve ever wished your furry best friend could stay healthy for a little longer, science may finally be catching up to that dream. A potential breakthrough in pet longevity is creating a buzz online, with many asking the same hopeful question: Could dogs soon enjoy more healthy years? As per media reports, a new anti-ageing pill for senior dogs, backed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), is coming closer to approval and could be available as early as 2026.
Anti-ageing drug for pet makes headlines
Talk of a “longer-life pill” for pets recently exploded across social media. Prediction platform Polymarket wrote, "New pill that makes dogs live longer set to be released next year." Other pages also noted that the first anti-ageing drug for dogs has cleared a major step with the FDA and is "closer to approval than ever."
The anti-ageing pill in talks is LOY-002, a drug developed by Loyal, a veterinary biotechnology company dedicated to extending the healthy lifespan of dogs. Though the online chatter is new, Loyal actually announced meaningful progress months earlier.
In a February 2025 update, the company reportedly confirmed that LOY-002 had earned formal FDA acceptance for a "reasonable expectation of efficacy" (RXE), one of the agency's key milestones for conditional approval. Loyal added that it had already built robust safety and manufacturing data and hoped to complete all regulatory requirements by the end of 2025. If the remaining steps go smoothly, LOY-002 could officially reach the market in 2026.
Loyal CEO Celine Halioua told the New York Post in June 2025, "The longevity space is crowded right now, and for good reason. We all want to figure out how to get more happy, healthy years for our loved ones — especially the furry ones."
What does LOY-002 do?
According to the company, LOY-002 is a caloric-restriction mimetic, meaning it mimics the biological benefits of a mild calorie-controlled diet without requiring the dog to eat less. The concept comes from years of research showing that calorie-restricted dogs lived about two years longer, with lower risks of cancer and osteoarthritis.
As media reports suggest, the upcoming drug is being designed for senior dogs aged 10 and older, weighing at least 14 pounds. Early results are promising. A pilot study involving 48 dogs showed no adverse effects after three months of treatment, as reported by Hot 97.
How internet reacted
If this comes true, it might be good news for the pet owners. A user on X (formerly Twitter) expressed, "I’ll pay any amount of money to buy this for my dog." Another wrote, "Wow if this actually works, it’s going to be a massive moment for pet owners. Imagine getting a few extra healthy years with your dog." Meanwhile, many comments stated, "my dog will live longer now."
