Calico (company)
| Company type | Subsidiary |
|---|---|
| Industry | Biotechnology |
| Founded | September 18, 2013 |
| Founder | Bill Maris |
| Headquarters | United States |
| Products | Research and development in aging biology and therapies |
| Parent | Alphabet Inc. |
Calico Life Sciences LLC is a United States-based biotechnology company dedicated to studying the biology of aging, with the objective of creating therapies that promote extended and healthier lifespans. It functions as a subsidiary under the umbrella of Alphabet Inc..
History
Originally named the California Life Company, Calico was unveiled on September 18, 2013, prior to Google's corporate restructuring. The venture was initiated by former GV CEO Bill Maris. In Google's 2013 Founders Letter, Larry Page characterized Calico’s mission as centered on "health, well-being, and longevity." The company was incorporated into Alphabet's portfolio in 2015.
Calico recruited a distinguished group of scientists specializing in aging research, including members affiliated with the National Academy of Sciences, such as Cynthia Kenyon and Daniel E. Gottschling. Among its early appointments were geneticist David Botstein and oncological drug developer Robert L. Cohen, MD. Additionally, Eric Verdin, CEO of The Buck Institute for Research on Aging, contributed as a consultant.
Between late 2017 and early 2018, Calico underwent executive shifts with the exit of R&D leader Hal Barron, MD, who moved to GlaxoSmithKline, as well as chief computing officer Daphne Koller, who departed to focus on machine learning innovations for drug discovery.
Partnerships
In September 2014, Calico entered into a research and development alliance with AbbVie aimed at combating aging and related conditions such as neurodegenerative diseases and cancer. Within this collaboration, Calico concentrates on early-stage discovery research while AbbVie handles scientific validation, clinical development, and commercialization efforts. This partnership has secured an investment exceeding $1 billion.
The following year, Calico joined forces with the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard to further research into aging mechanisms and therapeutic approaches. Concurrent collaborations included projects with the Buck Institute for Research on Aging and QB3 to investigate aging biology and potential interventions. Also in 2015, Calico collaborated with AncestryDNA to analyze genetic factors influencing human longevity.
In October 2023, Nature released preclinical data regarding ABBV-CLS-484, a PTPN2/N1 phosphatase inhibitor co-developed by AbbVie and Calico. This compound exhibited a strong dual effect on cancer and immune cells in murine models, marking significant advancements in immunotherapy research within their development pipeline.
Reception
At launch, Calico maintained considerable confidentiality about its specific scientific focus or technological approach. While it announced various research partnerships, details about project outcomes or particular studies were scarce. This lack of transparency generated disappointment among some scientists and raised doubts concerning Calico’s tangible scientific achievements. The company explained that its strategic emphasis is on long-term scientific inquiry with anticipated breakthroughs expected beyond a decade, which accounts for limited visible progress during its initial five years.