Interview with Peter Fedichev, CEO at Gero: Hacking Complex Diseases

Peter Fedichev

Gero is a group of companies that develop biomarkers and new drugs to treat complex diseases. Gero is pioneering drug discovery based on Whole Exome Sequencing data. Gero biomarkers and anti-aging targets discovery is based on analysis of big datasets of biomedical data.

Gero conducts high-quality research studies backed by collaboration with researchers from the leading global institutions such as the Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, National University of Singapore to develop new therapies. Gero’s AI platform is currently used to develop new therapies, reposition existing drugs, forecast chronic toxicity, and for clinical decision support.

Gero has developed a unique GeroSense framework for continuous day-to-day monitoring of biological age based on data streams from mobile and wearable sensors. GeroSense provides biological age monitoring in our free iPhone app.

In 2019, Gero was also named one of the leading companies in the field of artificial intelligence for lifespan extension along with Google and IBM.
 
 
Gero - Crunchbase Company Profile & Funding
 

How did you come up with the idea for the company?

 
Aging is one of humankind’s major problems and the next big thing in business and science.

Morbidity and mortality double every eight years. Aging is the main fundamental reason for it. People who just achieved their top levels in skillset and productivity are starting to decline. It curbs the development of our civilization.

The aging population will challenge economies much. Aging brings most of the cancers, strokes, Alzheimers, frailty, suffering, and deaths. So we started Gero having a mission to stop aging.

The hypothesis was that physics, where we are the experts, is applicable for building theoretical models for exposing cause and effect relations in big biological data related to aging. It worked. Given all that said, I believe aging is a field where we can produce a maximum impact and have good chances to resolve it, and this inspires us much.
 

 

How has the company evolved during the pandemic?

 
A pandemic is a hard time for the people, but as a company, we had a chance to concentrate on the execution of our go-to-market strategy and business development efforts. It was the right time, because we had a chance to take advantage of remote communication with potential partners around the world.
 

What can we hope to see from Gero in the future?

 
In terms of longevity drugs, we hope to develop drugs that will reverse aging and be useful in treating a variety of aging-related diseases.

Our Whole Exome Sequencing drug discovery platform applies to other complex diseases and looks like the best one to work with this new ocean of genetic data. We hope to collaborate with pharmaceutical companies to discover drugs against other major and currently untreatable diseases.

In mobile health, we are building a GeroSense — a longevity operating system.

“GeroSense” is a unique AI framework for continuous day-to-day monitoring of biological age based on data streams of mobile and wearable sensors. “GeroSense” provides biological age monitoring in our free iPhone app.

We believe Gero will bring all of us in the future, where we all know what is working and what is not working for your longevity. Moreover, AI will help you to personalize and will drive you your walk to the youth and health.