From IV drip bars to recovery studios to plush longevity clinics and online biohacking, the longevity industry is booming. The fear of ageing is fueling the business of living longer with promises of rejuvenation, youthful energy and the banishment of disease.
Four Corners investigates the race to slow, or even reverse, the ageing process.
Reporter Dr Norman Swan visits start-ups which are at the cutting edge of anti-aging research where there are billions of dollars at stake. The money to be made is so large that some of these biotechs could become the tech giants of tomorrow.
In the meantime, parts of the longevity industry are taking advantage of gaps in regulation, potentially putting Australian consumers at risk of harm. Unapproved products with little or no evidence of effectiveness or safety are flooding the market.
From biohackers in New York, to frontline labs in Boston, LA and Silicon Valley, to telehealth clinics in Australia, Four Corners asks how much of this industry is running ahead of the science?