Riyadh: Hevolution Foundation, the world's first nonprofit dedicated to extending healthy human lifespan and advancing the science of aging, has released the second edition of its Global Healthspan Report. The report presents new evidence suggesting that aging, traditionally seen as an inevitable decline, can be influenced through science, policy, and innovation to foster sustainable growth and wellbeing.
According to Saudi Press Agency, the report's findings indicate that reducing the period of poor health by just twelve months could generate trillions of dollars annually through increased productivity and lower healthcare costs. It also emphasizes the rapid growth of investment in healthspan-related innovation.
In 2024, global funding for healthspan science nearly doubled, reaching $7.33 billion, with average deal sizes increasing by 77% compared to the previous year. This surge points to rising investor confidence in an emerging sector anticipated to reshape the future of healthcare and aging.
CEO of Hevolution Foundation Dr. Mehmood Khan stated, 'Our ability to extend the number of years people live in good health is one of the defining challenges of our time. This report provides a roadmap for how science, policy, and investment can come together to make that vision a reality. Through our research funding and biotech investments led from Saudi Arabia, we are helping steer the global shift from simply adding years to life, to adding life to years, ensuring that healthier aging becomes a shared priority for all.'
The report highlights the significance of global collaboration, pointing out that regions such as the Middle East are rapidly emerging as hubs for innovation in healthspan science and policy. In Saudi Arabia, this momentum aligns with Vision 2030 and the Kingdom's ambition to become a global center for scientific and health innovation.
Through Hevolution Foundation, the Kingdom has allocated approximately $400 million to advance healthspan science. This includes supporting more than 230 research grants, representing around 200 researchers worldwide, 25 strategic partnerships, and four biotech companies, all working towards human clinical translation.
The second edition of the Global Healthspan Report serves as a call to action for policymakers, scientists, and investors to align around a shared goal: extending healthy human lifespan, expanding access to innovation, and ensuring that healthier, longer lives become a global reality.