Private Clinics vs. Traditional Hospitals • NAD+ Delivery • Mitochondria Testing

Issue 45: The front page of longevity medicine - curated by doctors, for doctors.

Hey Docs,

Longevity medicine is gaining serious traction — from consumers, investors, and now even health systems. Clinics are multiplying. Patients are wiser, asking for direct access to prevention, optimization, and performance care.

But we’re still at the beginning. There are real limitations in evidence, equity, pricing, and access. The field is growing fast, but it needs to grow wise.

I believe longevity medicine will define the future of healthcare. But for it to fulfill its promise, we - Longevity Docs - must lead with the right education, the right tools, and a commitment to both innovation and validation.

Build bold. But build wise.

Happy Sunday!!!!

Dr. David Luu

In this week’s newsletter:

• Cover Story:The Longevity Game: Private Clinics vs. Traditional Hospitals

• Inside Longevity Docs: Speaker Spotlight The Peptide Revolution by Dr. Craig Koniver - Gene Therapy by Dr. Patrick Sewell

• Buzz in the Chat: The NAD+ Debate • Mitochondria testing

• Evidence-based Longevity: Immune Resilience as a Salutogenic Force • Targeting Aging with Urolithin A in Humans: A Systematic Review • Evaluation of Off-Label Rapamycin

• Business of Longevity: Superpower, Biolinq, Humanaut, Fountain Life, and more

• The Community Wire: Dr. Kathleen Leger

• The Calendar: Cannes Summit • DC • Berlin • Portugal

The Longevity Game: Private Clinics vs. Traditional Hospitals

For decades, the conventional healthcare system treated prevention as an afterthought. Lifestyle? Nutrition? Early detection? Barely on the radar.

The business of medicine was designed to treat disease, not keep people healthy.
The experience? Long forms, fax machines, insurance denials, and waiting rooms, all built for when you’re already sick.

But the game is changing and the disruption isn’t coming from hospitals.

Longevity clinics are rewriting the rules of healthcare. From solo practitioners to PE- and VC-backed brands like Humanaut Health, Neko Health, Fountain Life, and digital-first platforms like Superpower, a new model is rising.

The philosophy is simple but radical:

• Test early.

• Personalize care.

• Optimize health before disease begins.

These clinics are offering what the traditional system has failed to deliver:
answers, agency, and action.

5 reasons Longevity Clinics are taking over the prevention conversation

1. Prevention is no longer optional: patients are demanding it: the public is asking for preventative solutions, not reactive sick care.

2. Doctors are leaving the system to build autonomy: they are done with the red tape of insurance, coding, and bureaucracy. They want freedom to practice medicine focused on health optimization.

3. Hospitals aren’t built for prevention: their infrastructure is designed for acute care and billing codes not long-term health management.

4. The business model is changing: longevity clinics are built on cash-pay models, focused on services, outcomes, and direct patient relationships not insurance codes or donor funding.

5. Investors are backing it: they are betting on this shift, seeing prevention, diagnostics, and health optimization as the next frontier of healthcare.

5 Reasons Longevity Clinics Can’t Compete (If Hospitals Decide to Pay Attention)

1. Hospitals will listen and build what patients (and donors) want: the minute health systems realize that prevention and longevity are where affluent patients and big donors are headed, they can pivot. When philanthropy speaks, hospitals build.

2. Insurance still owns the business model: as long as insurance remains the primary way most people access care, hospitals and health systems will keep their dominant position. Cash-pay models limit reach, insurance scales.

3. Large health systems still hold the trust: big institutions like Mayo, Cleveland Clinic, and Mount Sinai still carry decades of credibility. For serious prevention and diagnostics, most patients will default to names they know.

4. Hospitals can scale faster if they choose to: from infrastructure to capital to geographic footprint, hospitals can plug prevention services into their existing models and grow faster than startups can raise their next round.

5. They have the workforce and they can train it: hospitals already employ the doctors, nurses, and technicians. With the right training in longevity medicine and prevention, they can activate their teams at scale something startups will struggle to match.

Dr. David Luu’s Note: Why Physicians Must Lead This Game

Whether it’s happening inside a longevity clinic or a hospital system, one thing is clear:
The model of medicine is shifting from treating disease to managing health.

The question is not who will own the model.
The question is whether the doctors delivering care will be ready to lead it.

This next chapter of healthcare belongs to physicians who are:

• Trained in evidence-based longevity medicine

• Fluent in the latest science, diagnostics, and technologies

• Focused on outcomes, not just access

AI, wearables, advanced imaging, and biomarkers will all play a role but they are just tools. The physician will still remain at the center.

Those who are educated, prepared, and willing to evolve will drive this change.
Those who aren’t will be left behind.

The shift is happening.
The only question is: Will you be the one leading it?

Longevity Docs Summit Agenda & Speakers

The Peptide Revolution by Dr. Craig Koniver

Dr. Craig Koniver is widely recognized as one of the foremost experts in performance and longevity medicine. As the founder of Koniver Wellness, he has spent two decades developing and applying advanced protocols using peptides, exosomes, IV nutrient therapy, and regenerative technologies to optimize patient outcomes. His client roster includes high-performing executives, elite athletes, and longevity-focused individuals seeking next-level health optimization.

In this session, Dr. Koniver will unpack the latest science behind peptide therapies (from metabolic modulators to cognitive enhancers and immune regulators) and share how these tools are transforming the landscape of longevity care.

Why this matters:
Peptides are no longer fringe. They are fast becoming a core tool in personalized longevity programs offering physicians the ability to fine-tune cellular function, inflammation, and tissue repair. Understanding when, how, and which peptides to use is now essential for delivering next-generation outcomes.

Gene Therapy by Dr. Patrick Sewell

Dr. Patrick Sewell has been at the forefront of applying gene-based therapeutics in the context of regenerative and aesthetic medicine. With decades of clinical experience as a surgeon and a relentless focus on the intersection of technology and biology, Dr. Sewell is pioneering the practical use of gene therapy tools for longevity applications.

At Cannes, Dr. Sewell will explore the current state and future potential of gene therapy as a strategy to modulate aging pathways, including its role in muscle regeneration, telomere biology, and tissue rejuvenation.

Why this matters:
Gene therapy is moving from theoretical to actionable. With new delivery systems and increasingly precise targeting, these interventions have the potential to unlock unprecedented approaches to cellular repair, disease prevention, and biological age reversal. Physicians who understand these mechanisms will be better positioned to lead the future of longevity medicine.

Join us in Cannes for the Longevity Docs Summit - June 25-26, 2025

The NAD+ delivery debate

SubQ, IV, Intranasal, Oral: Does Route of Administration Matter?

The chat lit up this week over the best way to boost NAD+. Some doctors swear by subQ injections for convenience and compliance, while others argue there’s no evidence that going beyond oral improves outcomes.

“There’s no data showing IV or subQ works better than oral if the dose is right.” – Prof. Andrea Maier
“My patients love subQ, especially those who can’t tolerate IV. Weekly self-injection works well.” – Dr. RP
“Intranasal sounds good in theory, but show me the data.” – Dr. DP

Debate: Does the delivery method actually matter for boosting intracellular NAD levels or is it mostly marketing? Are we overcomplicating a simple molecule?

Takeaway: Despite the hype, no clear superiority between routes has been established. Patient compliance, safety, and cost may matter more than the delivery method itself, but pharma-grade NAD boosters are entering clinical trials, which could shift the landscape.

Trend Watch: The NAD+ space is maturing fast. Expect more clinical trials and pharma entries challenging the biohacker supplement scene.

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Mitochondria testing under the microscope

Are Current Mitochondrial Assays Reliable or Just Expensive Guesswork?

Debate heated up this week on the accuracy of commercial mitochondrial testing tools like MeScreen and MitoSwab. Some docs reported useful clinical insights — others called the tests “snake oil.”

“The extracellular flux assay from MeScreen is very different from Myhill-style testing — apples to oranges.” – Dr. JR
“The only critical review I’ve seen says these tests are unreliable. Not ready for prime time.” – Dr. EY
“We need standardization. Otherwise, we’re just guessing.” – Dr. GC

Debate: Are we measuring real mitochondrial function — or falling for pseudoscientific marketing? How do we validate these tests before recommending them to patients?

Takeaway: Mitochondrial dysfunction remains a key aging target, but diagnostic tools are lagging behind the hype. Proceed with caution. Third-party validation and standardized methodologies are urgently needed.

Trend Watch: As demand for precision mitochondrial medicine grows, expect a wave of innovation in functional assays, but right now, the field lacks consensus.

Private Club

Member Spotlight

Meet the Longevity Doctors Club members: physicians entrepreneurs building the future of longevity medicine one practice (or more) at the time.

Kathleen Leger, MD

Triple Board-Certified Physician | Founder, Jolivert Longevity | New York City

Dr. Kathleen Leger is a triple board-certified physician in Internal Medicine, Nephrology, and Critical Care Medicine, deeply committed to advancing the field of longevity and preventive health. Born and raised in Queens, New York, Dr. Leger attended SUNY Upstate Medical University for medical school, completed her residency at NYU Langone Long Island, and pursued two fellowships at Yale New Haven Hospital.

After serving as an Intensivist and Nephrologist at Mount Sinai Hospital, Dr. Leger recently transitioned to a full-time Intensivist role at JFK Medical Center in Edison, New Jersey. Her frontline experience in critical care has shaped her conviction that the future of medicine lies not just in managing disease but in preventing it — and empowering patients to live longer, healthier lives.

Dr. Leger is now channeling this vision into her next chapter as the founder of Jolivert Longevity, her new longevity medicine practice launching in August in Midtown East, New York City, in partnership with Sean Light, founder of 4A Health. Jolivert Longevity will offer personalized, evidence-based strategies focused on early detection, metabolic health, hormonal optimization, and performance enhancement.

Passionate about integrating cutting-edge science with human-centered care, Dr. Leger is part of the new wave of physicians leading the shift from sick care to true healthspan optimization.

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Join the Longevity Docs Club

If you’re a physician starting or scaling your longevity practice highly vetted Longevity Docs Club is for you.

Join a community of like-minded physicians and gain access to resources on marketing, finance, strategy, and technology to support your independent practice

Applications now open for MD, DO, or MBBS - Limited memberships

The 15-Year Survival Advantage: Immune Resilience as a Salutogenic Force in Healthy Aging

Analyzing ~17,500 individuals across lifespan stages and inflammatory challenges, we identified a core salutogenic mechanism: IR centered on TCF7, a conserved transcription factor maintaining T-cell stemness and regenerative potential. By reframing aging as a salutogenic-pathogenic balance, we establish TCF7-centered IR as central to healthy longevity. Targeted midlife interventions to enhance IR offer actionable strategies to maximize healthspan before biological constraints limit benefits. Aging Cell (2025)

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Targeting aging with urolithin A in humans: A systematic review

This systematic review assesses the potential geroprotective effect of UA in humans. In five studies including 250 healthy individuals, UA (10–1000 mg/day) for a duration ranging from 28 days to 4 months, showed a dose-dependent anti-inflammatory effect and upregulated some mitochondrial genes, markers of autophagy, and fatty acid oxidation. It did not affect mitochondrial maximal adenosine triphosphate production, biogenesis, dynamics, or gut microbiota composition. UA increased muscle strength and endurance, however, had no effect on anthropometrics, cardiovascular outcomes, and physical function. Unrelated adverse events were mild or moderate. Further research across more physiological systems and longer intervention periods is required. Ageing Research Reviews (2024)

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Evaluation of off-label rapamycin use to promote healthspan in 333 adults

We collected data from 333 adults with a history of off-label use of rapamycin by survey. Similar data were also collected from 172 adults who had never used rapamycin. Here, we describe the general characteristics of a patient cohort using off-label rapamycin and present initial evidence that rapamycin can be used safely in adults of normal health status. Geroscience (2023)

We track the week’s most strategic moves in innovation, funding, product launches, and talent shifts. This is not just to report them, but to help doctors stay informed, ahead, and equipped to adapt as the field evolves.

Because the future of longevity medicine is being built in real time and you deserve a front-row seat.

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Superpower Raises $30M Series A

The self-described "health super app" Superpower secured $30M to scale its personalized health optimization platform, blending diagnostics, AI, and continuous engagement.

• Why it matters: Big funding into personalized, data-driven prevention confirms consumer appetite beyond traditional healthcare.

• Takeaway: Expect Superpower to push further into diagnostics integration and virtual longevity coaching.

• Trend watch: The rise of “health operating systems” combining wearables, labs, and AI-driven health guidance.

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Biolinq Secures $100M for Non-Invasive CGM

Biolinq closed a $100M round to advance its needle-free continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) technology, aiming to simplify metabolic health tracking for millions.
Read more →

• Why it matters: Metabolic health remains one of the biggest levers for longevity, with CGMs becoming the new vital sign.

• Takeaway: Non-invasive devices will accelerate adoption among the general population, not just diabetics.

• Trend watch: Frictionless biomarker monitoring is moving mainstream — blood sugar, cortisol, ketones, and more.

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Timeline Nutrition Launches Urolithin A Gummies

Timeline adds longevity gummies to its Mitopure® Urolithin A product line, expanding delivery formats for mitochondrial support.

• Why it matters: Mitochondrial health is gaining consumer awareness as central to energy, aging, and muscle function.

• Takeaway: Supplement brands are focusing on ease of use and compliance expect more functional food formats.

• Trend watch: Mitochondrial optimization is becoming a core pillar of the longevity supplement stack.

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Metro Biotech Begins Phase 1a Trial for New NAD Booster

Metro International Biotech dosed its first cohort in a Phase 1a trial of MIB-725, a next-generation NAD+ booster targeting mitochondrial dysfunction.
Press release →

• Why it matters: NAD biology remains one of the most promising areas in cellular aging research.

• Takeaway: Pharma-grade NAD boosters are entering the pipeline, moving beyond over-the-counter supplements.

• Trend watch: The race for validated, effective NAD+ therapeutics is heating up, watch this space.

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Humanaut Health Opens in Florida

The longevity clinic expands into Florida, bringing advanced diagnostics, healthspan strategies, and physician-led care to a fast-growing market.
Full announcement →

• Why it matters: Longevity clinics are racing to establish local footprints in high-net-worth hubs.

• Takeaway: Expect the Florida market to become a hotspot for luxury healthspan services.

• Trend watch: “Longevity medicine” is moving from concept to clinic in key lifestyle markets like Miami, LA, and Dubai.

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Fountain Life Expands to One Thousand Museum, Miami

Fountain Life opens a flagship inside Miami’s One Thousand Museum, the luxury tower designed by Zaha Hadid, focusing on early detection and precision health for HNWIs.
Announcement →

• Why it matters: The fusion of luxury real estate and longevity care reflects how health optimization is becoming a lifestyle status symbol.

• Takeaway: Expect more “destination health” centers combining diagnostics, concierge care, and exclusive environments.

• Trend watch: The Hermès-ification of longevity where wellness meets architecture, art, and exclusivity.
  

Longevity Docs Summit Cannes

This is not just another medical conference, this is the future of cutting-edge longevity medicine.

Join the world’s most visionary longevity physicians, scientists, and innovators for two days of breakthroughs, discoveries, and high-level networking under the French Riviera sun.

Summit. Awards & Black tie Gala. Expo.

📅 Date: June 25-26, 2025
📍 Location: Palace of Festival, Cannes - France

🎟️ Registrations are now open: and spots are limited.

👉 Apply now before it sells out. The New Gods of Medicine will be in Cannes. Will you?

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Hormones Mastermind Replay

For the first time, get full online access to the entire event:
✔ 10 expert-led modules
✔ Real-world protocols and case studies
✔ On-demand viewing, anytime, anywhere

No fluff, no travel: just pure, actionable hormone and longevity education.

Replay Pass: $295

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Longevity Conferences Calendar

• A4LI DC Summit: Washington DC - April 28-30

• The Longevity Med Summit - Lisbon, May 6-8

• Life Summit - Berlin, May 27-28

• Dublin Longevity Summit: Dublin, July 2–4

• ARDD: Coppenhagen, August 25-29

Why every doctor should be a longevity doctor.

The Movement

Longevity Docs is the world’s leading collective of physicians advancing longevity medicine through education, clinical research, advisory, and exclusive experiences. With over 400 members in 50+ countries, we’re building the global infrastructure for evidence-based, personalized longevity care.

Why “Longevity Docs”?

Because we believe longevity is not a specialty — it’s a human right.

The future of medicine is proactive, not reactive. It's interdisciplinary, not isolated. It’s collaborative, data-driven, and deeply human. And it starts with us — the physicians who dare to redefine what care looks like across the decades of a patient’s life.

“Longevity Docs” isn’t just a name. It’s a statement of purpose.

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Our Ecosystem

• Physician Network
  A trusted global collective of longevity-focused doctors exchanging protocols, referrals, and real-world clinical outcomes.

• Education & Certification
  Earn your Certified Longevity Physician™ designation through our advanced curriculum, live masterclasses, and continuous learning tracks.

• Decentralized Research
  Lead or participate in multicenter clinical trials and patient registries, accelerating evidence generation for healthspan optimization.

• Strategic Advisory
  We partner with vetted longevity companies, life-science, tech, and clinics to help them grow.

• Global Events & Experiences
  Access exclusive gatherings like the NYC Mastermind and the Cannes Longevity Summit & Awards

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Who It’s For

• Doctors → Join the club, get certified, grow your practice

• Health Systems → Implement clinical longevity programs

• Brands & Startups → Validate products, find advisors, run trials

• Investors → Gain early access to insights, doctors, and deal flow

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Subscribe to the Longevity Docs Newsletter

Stay connected with the backstage of the Longevity Docs community, a network of over 400 physicians spanning 50 countries, united in our mission to democratize longevity medicine. Explore the latest in evidence-based longevity care, gain exclusive access to physician insights, and join us in shaping the future of this transformative field.

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Newsletter Disclaimer:

The content shared in this newsletter, including the "Buzz in the Chat" section, is for educational purposes only. It is derived from peer-to-peer conversations among physicians within the Longevity Docs community and is intended to inform and engage our network of doctors.

Please note that these discussions do not reflect the official position of Longevity Docs and are not to be interpreted as medical advice or recommendations. The insights and opinions shared are those of individual physicians and are provided as part of our mission to foster collaborative learning and dialogue among healthcare professionals.

We encourage all readers to consult qualified healthcare professionals for personalized medical advice and to evaluate any medical information in the context of their clinical expertise and patient needs.