During the 2026 Animal Longevity Summit (ALOS), bionutrition company Odacova Health presented findings from a nine-year canine longevity study involving MHCR-1, a new bioactive designed to help dogs live longer.
Several studies have shown that calorie restriction is the most effective non-pharmacologic way to improve longevity and healthspan in many species. However, maintaining long-term calorie restriction is typically impractical for pet owners. MHCR-1 was designed to provide the benefits of calorie restriction without requiring a dog to eat less. The bioactive was developed with former National Institute on Aging scientists Dr. Donald Ingram and Dr. George Roth, pioneers in the calorie restriction-mimetic field.
“I’ve spent thirty years studying calorie restriction, and the single biggest obstacle was never proving that it works — it was making it usable,” said Dr. Ingram. “A multi-year canine program provides an important opportunity to examine whether aspects of calorie-restriction biology can be approached in a practical and scientifically responsible way.”
The ALOS presentation covered the effects of MHCR-1 on markers of healthy aging, including:
- Gene expression patterns: Dogs receiving MHCR-1 had gene-expression patterns similar to those of younger animals.
- Fasting glucose levels: MHCR-1-treated dogs showed significantly different glucose levels, a key metabolic aging marker.
- Muscle function: Dogs receiving the bioactive had better muscle power over multiple years, which translated to positive trends in daily activity and function.
Odacova’s goal is to create bionutrition ingredients that can be incorporated into pet foods, treats, and supplements. The company has filed provisional patent applications covering aspects of the MHCR-1 platform.