The McKinsey Health Institute has highlighted the ways in which various stakeholders can play their part in accelerating the science behind biomedical interventions that affect the ageing process and improve health outcomes.

In a new report, Healthspan science may enable healthier lives for all, the authors outline how this field of investigation has become an increasingly credible option for investors.

McKinsey’s authors cite figures that suggest age-related diseases and conditions account for around 633 million disability-adjusted life years annually.

To increase the period a person spends in good health, the research team suggests that interventions that address half of this burden could help recover about US$2 trillion (€1.7 trillion, £1.5 trillion) in GDP.

According to UN figures, almost 15 per cent of the global population is due to be 65 or older by 2040, up from 10 per cent today.

Recently published McKinsey research suggests latent consumer demand for solutions that address age-related poor health is vast. Up to 60 per cent of consumer respondents consider healthy ageing or longevity to be a ‘top’ or ‘very important’ priority.

The science

The healthspan field of science is still a long way from maturity.

Scientists have outlined 14 biological processes that contribute to ageing the most, the “hallmarks of ageing,” such as genomic instability, telomere attrition and stem cell exhaustion. The report’s authors point out, however, that no healthspan-related drug or clinical intervention has reached the market yet.

Investment in biotech has increased, with the five-year average sum quadrupling over the past decade from a range of investor types, mostly from venture capital firms.

The field of healthy longevity has seen the five-year average for trial initiations grow by approximately 27 per cent between 2013-17. Seventy-four per cent of these trials were for drugs and the remaining experiments were for supplements, digital solutions and lifestyle interventions.

Shifts for advancement

McKinsey’s authors have outlined seven ways to speed up the advancement of healthspan science.

1. Defining “healthspan” and improving its perception

Stakeholders need to come together to define “healthspan”, rather than pursuing a siloed approach.

Currently, different organisations have their own definitions that align with their own goals, developing solutions in areas they perceive to be the priority, whether that’s lifespan, functional health, prevention, intervention or treatment.

2. Improve data availability

An increased global coordination of research would improve access to comprehensive data sets for interventions that have the most potential.

The authors suggest a diverse group of stakeholders could facilitate regular population biomarker testing, such as governments and academic institutions, using artificial intelligence tools to analyse the data.

3. Establish a consensus on biomarkers

Biomarkers that define healthspan and ageing trajectories need to be clinically validated in order to improve healthspan science. The benefits would include more regulatory approval for clinical trials that hope to achieve meaningful outcomes in the field.

4. Accelerate clinical development and translation

Healthspan science needs more clinical development expertise.

Much of the pre-clinical ageing research has not progressed to clinical development and individuals have not been studied for extended periods, which affects the data available used to measure the ageing process.

Using cutting-edge research and development approaches, such as AI-driven testing systems could produce discoveries of new clinical targets.

5. Regulatory pathways

In order to reach populations safely and effectively, healthspan-related therapies need an approval pathway, the way pharmaceuticals have.

6. Reduce investment risk

Currently the field attracts high-risk investors and high net worth individuals, with both demographics accounting for 60 per cent of funding. These investors only account for 15 per cent of oncology funding, by comparison.

New investment models, such as co-investment with established entities, philanthropists and blue-chip investors, could encourage investment.

7. Evidence-based practice and talent

Stakeholders can develop practitioner talent globally, such as clinicians, academic leaders and researchers, to facilitate development and public access to innovative healthspan innovations.

Read the full report here.