The warning worked

The startup that promised pensioners rejuvenation with blood has closed

Sergey Kolenov, Hi-tech+

The company, which tried to turn the blood of young people into a cure for old age, announced the termination of work. This happened immediately after the FDA declared the company's methods ineffective and dangerous.

Obsession with the fight against aging has given birth to many strange startups. The most odious of them was the company Ambrosia, which promised to rejuvenate elderly customers by transfusing young blood. The cost of one procedure ranged from $8000 to $12,000. At the same time, the startup did not provide a single proof that the technique is effective.

The trade in young blood was based on a legal loophole: from the point of view of American legislation, Ambrosia and similar startups simply transfuse blood plasma, and this procedure has long been approved by the FDA and does not require special permits.

Despite the dubious reputation, Ambrosia's business developed, although the company failed to open the promised clinic in New York. The FDA's statement was enough for the startup to announce its closure.

On Tuesday, February 19, the regulator announced that transfusion of young blood cannot be considered safe and effective. According to officials, elderly people should not succumb to the promises of companies and give them their money for a dubious procedure that can supposedly improve memory and even cure Parkinson's and Alzheimer's diseases. In addition, they warned about the risk of allergic reactions, infection and possible problems with the cardiovascular system.

The FDA representatives did not mention the names of specific companies. However, immediately after the statement, Ambrosia announced that it was stopping the treatment of patients and closing. The company's founder, Jesse Karmazin, declined to comment.

A team of American researchers believes that most biotech and medical startups are based on pseudoscience. Such companies collect generous funding from investors, but do not publish scientific articles proving the effectiveness of the methods and technologies used.

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