M42 and Juvenescence collaborate on AI-enabled longevity drugs

Abu Dhabi biotech collaboration aims to fast-track clinical-stage therapies that target the root mechanisms of aging and age-related disease.

In a move that signals both the ambitions of Abu Dhabi’s life sciences sector and the evolving global approach to aging, M42 has announced a strategic investment and partnership with clinical-stage biotech company Juvenescence. The collaboration – unveiled during Abu Dhabi Global Health Week – combines M42’s AI and genomic platforms with Juvenescence’s pipeline of drug candidates focused on extending healthy human lifespan.

Longevity.Technology: This partnership between M42 and Juvenescence marks a strategic fusion of regional ambition and global expertise in the quest to extend human healthspan, and it illustrates a broader paradigm shift in healthcare – from treating diseases to proactively addressing the biology of aging. With M42’s powerful genomic and AI infrastructure, including the Emirati Genome Project and Abu Dhabi Biobank, paired with Juvenescence’s clinical-stage pipeline and track record in high-impact drug development, the alliance is poised to catalyze a new wave of mechanism-based therapies targeting aging itself. As Abu Dhabi positions itself as a global longevity hub, the initiative reflects both a local commitment to biomedical innovation and a scalable model for future-ready healthcare ecosystems. The real litmus test, however, will be how quickly this collaboration can deliver tangible clinical breakthroughs – be it in ketone-based metabolic regulators or senolytics – while navigating regulatory frameworks and translating frontier science into everyday healthcare.

The partnership comes as part of M42’s broader strategy to deepen its capabilities in AI-driven therapeutics and disease prevention. The organization, which was formed through the merger of G42 Healthcare and Mubadala Health, brings together more than 480 facilities across 26 countries, operating platforms such as the Emirati Genome Programme and the Abu Dhabi Biobank; these infrastructures are intended to support not only drug discovery but also precision medicine and future clinical trials.

Commenting on M42’s investment and life sciences ambition, Hasan Jasem Al Nowais, Managing Director and Group Chief Executive Officer at M42, said: “With this investment and partnership, M42 is taking great strides in reinforcing Abu Dhabi’s push as a global nexus for AI-enabled therapeutics and biomedical innovation to tackle local and international health challenges. With Juvenescence, we are unlocking the potential of AI to transform the way we discover and deliver drugs, bringing innovative, life-changing therapies to patients worldwide. This is not just about innovation, it’s about impact – on lives, on science and on the future of health.”

Juvenescence, co-founded by Jim Mellon, Dr Greg Bailey and Dr Declan Doogan, brings a portfolio of clinical and near-clinical drug candidates focused on cognitive health, metabolic conditions and cellular regeneration. With a leadership team that has overseen approvals for therapies with combined peak annual sales exceeding $30 billion, the company seeks to develop medicines that intervene in the fundamental processes of aging rather than treating age-related diseases as isolated endpoints.

“We are delighted to be working together with M42,” said Dr Richard Marshall, Chief Executive Officer at Juvenescence. “This powerful partnership will combine M42’s expertise in AI, technology, and genomics with Juvenescence’s unrivalled ability to discover and develop innovative drugs for age-related disease. Our work together will enable the creation of a unique pipeline of innovative therapeutics that will have enormous potential to target the underlying causes of age-related disease and improve the healthspan of patients globally.”

The collaboration’s immediate focus will be on integrating M42’s Life Sciences and Integrated Health Solutions platforms with Juvenescence’s AI discovery and drug development capabilities; a joint steering committee will be established to direct the partnership’s activities, which may include identification of new targets, shared clinical research infrastructure and partnerships with global academic institutions.

Dr Fahed Al Marzooqi, Chief Executive Officer of M42’s Integrated Health Solutions platform and Acting Chief Executive Officer of its AI Life Sciences platform, framed the collaboration as a significant evolution in translational science. “Our partnership with Juvenescence is a crucial step toward redefining healthcare through AI-driven drug discovery and biotechnology,” he said. “By uniting AI innovation with biotech expertise, we’re not only advancing the fight against age-related diseases but also building a global ecosystem that empowers prevention, precision, and progress – delivering transformative therapies from Abu Dhabi to the world.”

For the United Arab Emirates, the partnership aligns closely with the national objective of economic diversification through knowledge-intensive industries. The UAE’s investment in omics and health data infrastructure – including the sequencing of over 800,000 genomes as part of the Emirati Genome Project – has created a foundation for biotech initiatives that the country is leveraging to compete on an international scale. Through this deal, M42 also gains access to Juvenescence’s modality-agnostic approach, encompassing small molecules, gene therapies and regenerative medicine platforms.

At a time when much of the longevity field remains fragmented and exploratory, this collaboration presents a rare confluence of regulatory support, financial capital, infrastructure, and translational focus. Observers will be looking closely at whether this convergence leads to timely progress in clinical trials – particularly those exploring ketone-based metabolic therapies and senolytic agents – as well as whether new AI tools for drug discovery and biomarker identification will be developed in the process.

As the field of longevity science continues to mature, the effectiveness of such public-private collaborations will be judged not only by the novelty of their technological capabilities, but by their ability to bring safe and effective therapies to patients in meaningful timeframes.