Biohacking and the market

"Biohacking will not replace healthy lifestyle if you are lying on the couch"

What is biohacking and who does it in Russia

Natalia Kolodinskaya, Rusbase

To maximize productivity, extend the average life expectancy to 100-120 years and reduce to zero the risks of developing age–related diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease - biohackers strive for this. Rusbase found out what the industry can already offer, how biohacking differs from healthy lifestyle, which companies work in this market and how public institutions react to them. 

What is biohacking?

The origins of the movement originated in the late 1980s in the USA - then it was called do–it-yourself biology (homemade biology). Young scientists sought to go beyond conservative research at universities. They were often joined by adherents of transhumanism, a philosophy according to which a person can radically improve physical and mental abilities with the help of technology. So, in home laboratories, biohacking was born. Progressive researchers already believed that technology would make humanity healthier and more productive. 

Today, biohacking is discussed not only in the context of medicine or biology itself, but also in art, sports, data science and futurology. 

What is the fundamental difference between modern biohacking, which media and technology investors have been talking about only since the 2010s, and the well-known healthy lifestyle? The experts of the material agree.

• Healthy lifestyle practices are useful for everyone, they are universal and almost completely safe, if you do not take into account possible injuries even in amateur sports.
• Biohacking is recommended only for those who are ready to thoroughly understand the indicators of their body, regularly take tests and follow all medical recommendations. 

Often doctors refuse to prescribe the drug when the potential harm from it is greater than the benefit. Yulia Tkachenko, a general practitioner and head of the Department for the development of medicine BestDoctor, gives as an example the use of antidepressants. In evidence-based medicine, they are prescribed strictly according to indications: in the presence of depressive or anxiety disorders. And biohackers, Tkachenko says, often take antidepressants to increase their performance and keep up more than "ordinary" people.

Stanislav Skakun, founder of Biodata, considers biohacking as a superstructure over healthy lifestyle practices. For example, you can prepare for a marathon in classic ways. Or you can resort to biochemical supplements or sports medicine to show the best results. "Biohacking will not replace healthy lifestyle if you are lying on the couch. But biohacking will be an effective supplement if you are already regularly engaged in your health." 

Artem Vasiliev, the founder of the Biohacking Laboratory, divides biohacking into "conservative" and "progressive".

• The first approach uses long-studied methods with small risks. These include diets prescribed by doctors, taking biologically active supplements (dietary supplements), sports for personal training – everything that can be attributed to an advanced lifestyle.
• And "progressive" biohacking already includes more radical measures: genome editing, implantation of chips into the body for storing information or cryofreezing. Such formats are still associated with high risks. But if their effectiveness and safety are proven in the future, then humanity will be able to significantly extend the average life expectancy and activity even after 70-80 years. 

Stanislav Skakun, founder of Biodata: "The Pareto principle works in the care of prolonging life. Healthy lifestyle copes with this task by 80%. If you exercise regularly and quit smoking, you will live 10-15 years longer: not 65 years, but about 80. Healthy habits cost you practically nothing, do not require deep knowledge in biology – this is the 20% of the effort spent. But to live to 100 years, you need to put 80% of the effort and go 20% of the way. Spend more money, effort and figure out biohacking yourself."

The Russian biohacking market

Since biohacking has rather blurred boundaries with medicine and healthy lifestyle practices, even experts cannot name the exact number of companies on the market. According to Ruslan Altaev, Director of acceleration of the biomedical technologies cluster of the Skolkovo Foundation, interest in the industry in Russia is gradually growing. Genetic tests at home, personalized nutrition and training systems, interfaces that help train concentration are examples of domestic projects that can be attributed to biohacking. There are many residents or partners of Skolkovo among them. 

In particular, already on the market:

• Gero is an application for assessing biological age and learning new habits that prolong life and improve health (Gero: Bioage & Healthy Lifestyle is an app in the App Store). The company also develops clinical drugs for the treatment of age-related diseases and conducts academic research in this area.
• MyGenetics, "Genotech" and "Atlas" – genetic tests that help optimize sports, diet and lifestyle in general.
• "Planta", "Yodonorm" – functional food products. 
• The Center for Neurotechnologies of Sleep and Wakefulness – sleep management.
• Bioniq and Biodata are personalized systems for monitoring body markers. 
• "Biohacking Laboratory" is a sports laboratory in which loads and procedures are selected based on a detailed study of body parameters, including biochemical blood analysis and anthropometric, that is, with measurement of body parameters, testing.

In development:

• Brain Bit is developing a non-invasive Edvais blood glucose meter, which is scheduled to enter the market in the second half of 2020. This mobile glucose sensor can be integrated into a smartphone or smartwatch. 
• "Telebiomet" develops a neurointerface based on a simplified analogue of MRI optical spectroscopy. The neurointerface with the help of biofeedback allows you to train concentration and attention. Now the company focuses the product on early detection of cerebral circulation disorders.
• Insilico (a subsidiary of the American Insilico Medicine) creates a virtual model of the human body. This is done for faster drug development and prediction of their effect. 
• "Laboratory of Youth" trains machine vision algorithms to determine a person's biological age. 

According to Stanislav Skakun, the modern audience of biohacking in Russia has tens of thousands of potential customers. Doctors' services are becoming more expensive, the population is aging, the burden on the medical system is growing. Traditional approaches will not fully cope with health protection, the founder of Biodata believes. Therefore, it will require the active participation of the patient himself, his desire to understand what is happening to his body. The popularization of biohacking around the world is a consequence of these changes. Medicine cannot be completely preventive, doctors in most cases work with a patient who already has something in pain. The modern healthcare system is not able to make a technological check–up for 300 thousand rubles to everyone - it would bring it down. 

According to the observations of Vladimir Volobuev, CEO of MyGenetics, there is no global competition in the biohacking market in Russia yet. There are a lot of free niches, and the potential of this segment is quite large. 

Artem Vasiliev, founder of the Biohacking Laboratory: "It would seem that if you want to feel better, you need to see a doctor. But to what? A general practitioner often diagnoses simply the presence or absence of a disease. It turns out that a person does not seem to be ill, but gets tired quickly. Therefore, the greatest demand is observed for the basic checkup. It provides information on the basis of which we develop recommendations for improving productivity."

A general portrait of a client of a biohacking company, according to the observations of experts of the material:

• Gender. Approximately 50/50 men and women. Although Vladimir Volobuev clarifies that the main clients of MyGenetics are women 40+. In his opinion, they are much more consciously suited to the preservation of the body than men. 
• Age. From 30 to 55 years old. In the fourth decade, a person begins to realize that he is not immortal, which pushes him to engage in his health, including practices outside of traditional medicine. Up to about 55 years of age, people are covered by digital communication channels – these are active users of gadgets. The older generation (55-60+) is still used to classical medicine.
• Type of activity. Marketers, financiers, IT specialists, as well as entrepreneurs in any field. Representatives of these professions are accustomed to rely primarily on data in their work. They are not confused by the idea that the body is a machine whose indicators can be measured and partially corrected. 

Legal regulation of biohacking companies

The difficulty of obtaining a work permit in the field of biohacking depends on the potential risk of using a new technology. For example, to open a clinic that conducts examinations, it is necessary to obtain a license to conduct medical activities. According to Artem Vasiliev, the process of obtaining a license can take 2-6 months.

With self–registration, it will cost 7,500 rubles - this is the cost of state duty. But in addition, it is necessary, for example, to conclude a contract for the maintenance of medical equipment and employment contracts with doctors.
Turnkey registration from specialized companies can cost up to 300 thousand rubles. Therefore, some businesses deal with documents on their own.

If your company provides only background information without prescribing medical procedures, you can do without licensing, adds Ruslan Altaev. 

Vladimir Volobuev, the creator of the MyGenetics service, talks about the legal restriction associated with licensing test systems. "What we do is at the intersection of scientific research and medicine, so the question arises of how to properly license our products." We are talking about a separate simplified procedure for licensing laboratory–developed tests - laboratory diagnostic test, LDT. The safety of LDT is determined by the absence of the risk of harm to life, human health and the environment when using tests for their intended purpose under the conditions provided by the manufacturer.

Stanislav Skakun also mentions the restriction associated with working with personal data. It is necessary to develop and implement a number of documents to ensure their security. For example, the model of IT threats faced by the company. Next, you need to purchase data protection equipment and choose a data center that has the right to install it. In general, obtaining such certification is a separate project with a length of about six months and a cost of 1.5–2 million rubles.

The relationship between biohacking and public institutions

Biohacking is often criticized by doctors and scientists, and in the media you can see publications about the results of experiments that contradict generally accepted scientific ethics, led to serious injuries or even ended in death. 

For example, in 2018 it became known that Chinese professor He Jiankui "created" the first genetically modified babies in history. The girls' father was HIV-infected, and in order to make the twins immune to the virus, the scientist removed part of the CCR5 gene from the embryos, through which the immunodeficiency virus attaches to the cells. Despite the fact that the children were born healthy, colleagues around the world criticized He's experiment as unsafe and unethical. As a result, in 2019, the Shenzhen city court sentenced the scientist to three years in prison and a fine of three million yuan. 

In the spring of the same 2018, another gloomy news from the world of biohacking was published. The head of the American biotech company Ascendance Biomedical, Aaron Trayvick, was found dead in a sensory deprivation chamber – a special bath with a saline solution that creates a feeling of "weightlessness", relieving stress and muscle tension. The investigation found out that the businessman drowned, the narcotic substance ketamine was found in his blood. Trayvick was known for his extravagance: for example, at one of the conferences on biohacking, he publicly took off his pants and injected himself with a homemade vaccine against herpes. The effectiveness of this drug, which was developed by Ascendance Biomedical, has not been proven by any scientific research. Herpes is still considered an incurable disease. 

The science

Ruslan Altaev says that now it is difficult to predict how society's attitude to biohacking will change. "A biological "black swan" can happen – for example, if a large number of people suffer from unsuccessful biohacker experiments." But if we are talking about more traditional approaches to a healthy lifestyle, then they may well be in the area of interest of research centers. For example, the Institute of Biomedical Problems of the Russian Academy of Sciences has been conducting research since Soviet times, which, according to Altaev, can be attributed to the field of biohacking. An example is an experiment to create artificial gravity on the ISS. In order for the muscles not to atrophy in the conditions of space weightlessness, astronauts are forced to work hard on simulators. The experiment is aimed at supplementing or even replacing physical exercises, which is especially important for the prospect of long flights to distant planets. 

Vladimir Volobuev also talks about the cooperation of his company and the institutes of the Russian Academy of Sciences. "Today, diabetic patients regularly measure their sugar levels with a glucose meter. But 100 years ago, this would have been regarded as the pinnacle of biohacking. Therefore, I would not oppose it to science." 

Stanislav Skakun believes that over time, the experiments of biohackers with a tragic end will be regarded as the mistakes of the pioneers of the industry. And biohacking itself, including its radical approaches, will not shock society. Yuri Deigin, vice President of the Science for Life Extension Foundation and CEO of Youthereum Genetics, also talks about popularizing biohacker approaches. In his opinion, gene therapy is already being used to treat congenital or age-related diseases, including such as cancer and hemophilia. And the genetic tests themselves are becoming more and more affordable: if earlier the cost reached $ 999-2500, today the price has fallen to $199. 

Medicine

In the Internet space, it can be noticed that doctors are skeptical about biohacking or even openly oppose it. 

According to Yulia Tkachenko, as a rule, doctors do not criticize patients who follow the principles of biohacking. We are talking about the evangelists of the movement and the so-called "Instagram doctors" who take responsibility to popularize methods that have not been proven by science. 

Yulia Tkachenko, internist and head of the Department for the Development of Medicine BestDoctor: "Unfortunately, unreasonable testing of biohacking techniques on yourself can have consequences. The most insignificant are allergic reactions to biologically active additives. In my practice, I have often encountered skin rashes and edema as a response to taking herbal medicines and vitamins. Also, the liver may react to uncontrolled intake of dietary supplements. There is even such a condition as medicinal hepatitis – this is damage to the liver by drugs." 

Prolonged course of medicinal hepatitis can eventually lead to cirrhosis of the liver, the expert explains. And not controlled by a doctor, taking antidepressants threatens serotonin syndrome – a potentially fatal reaction of the body to the release of serotonin.

"Some diets are also questionable. The most studied and suitable for maintaining health is the Mediterranean diet. It implies a balanced diet, which includes a large amount of fiber and unsaturated fats. This approach is usually recommended by doctors for heart problems and for weight loss. Among biohackers, on the contrary, methods of unbalanced nutrition are popular, when the emphasis is on only one of the nutrients. For example, the keto diet is now being heard, in which the focus is on foods with a high fat content. Its effect on metabolism has not yet been sufficiently studied. There are studies that low-carb diets with high fat intake reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases and have a positive effect on brain functioning, including reducing the frequency of epileptic seizures in people. At the same time, keto diets negatively affect digestion: constipation develops due to a lack of fiber. 

I remember the craze for high–protein nutrition a few years ago - then it seemed an integral part of fitness and healthy lifestyle. However, it later turned out that the kidneys are seriously affected by an excess of protein in the diet. Therefore, the medical approach to such popular diets is conservative: first you need to conduct research, study possible risks, and then implement and popularize the method." The doctor adds that cases when biohackers test non–certified drugs on themselves do not need comments - this can lead and has already led to fatal outcomes. 

Inspired by publications about soaring efficiency or "eternal youth", some thoughtlessly experiment with their health, and then come to the hospital with problems. Therefore, according to the founder of Biodata, doctors have reasonable fears that for one biohacker with a conscious approach, there are a thousand people who have harmed themselves. "I've been biohacking for seven years. And the fact that I'm still alive says that I'm a cool biohacker." 

Church

Historically, the relationship between science, including its new directions, and religion is often overshadowed by criticism from the latter. For example, the Russian Orthodox Church (ROC) opposes in vitro fertilization (IVF) and surrogacy. The ROC also proposes to impose a moratorium on human genetic modification, since "editing the human genome actualizes a number of bioethical problems."

Biohacking, as a direction in medicine and in business, is associated with the philosophical ideas of transhumanism. According to this concept, science and technology can significantly improve abilities, prolong life for decades or, possibly, make a person immortal. Patriarch Kirill has repeatedly criticized the ideas of transhumanism, calling the concept "a threat to society and the family" and "a new form of anti-Christianity." The head of the Russian Orthodox Church explains this, among other things, by the fact that biotechnologies that prolong life for several decades will split humanity into two halves: into "superhumans" who will be able to pay for such expensive upgrades of physiology, and their "subordinates". "One of the manifestations of the problem of scientism is the risk of dehumanization of humanity as a result of the spread of ideas of transhumanism, that is, "going beyond the boundaries of humanity", preaching some kind of qualitative improvement of human physical nature through science and technology." 

Despite the criticism, nothing human is alien to the representatives of the clergy. Artem Vasiliev says that the primates of the Russian Orthodox Church applied to the "Biohacking Laboratory" in order to improve their well-being or lose excess weight. "They are the same people who are subject to the principles of physiology," the entrepreneur adds. 

According to Stanislav Skakun, the more biohacking interacts with medicine, the less the church will criticize it. "There is a sin in Orthodoxy – carnivory. It manifests itself when a person is obsessed with his body, excessive care for it, while forgetting about eternal values and about the soul. Then a person becomes narcissistic, egocentric." Therefore , a person needs to answer two questions:

• Did his interest in biohacking become an obsession?
• Do these technologies benefit other people?

If both answers are positive, then, according to the creator of Biodata, biohacking does not contradict religious values. 

Biohacking and coronavirus: how will the pandemic affect the development of the market? 

Experts differ in their forecasts about how the coronacrisis in Russia will affect the development of the biohacking market. Vladimir Volobuev believes that the trend for healthy lifestyle is stable, but in times of crisis people are busy meeting their basic needs. Long-term goals, including concerns about life extension, fade into the background.

According to Artem Vasiliev, there are already national projects in Russia, within the framework of which it is planned to finance research in the field of DNA editing and increasing the average life expectancy of the population. And after the end of the pandemic, the number of people interested in their health will grow. The presence of chronic diseases significantly increases the risk of death when infected with COVID-19, therefore, health control will allow the body to become more resistant, including to such viruses. Vasiliev cites as an example a recent study in which scientists have identified a relationship between vitamin D levels and mortality from COVID-19 infection. With its deficiency, the probability of death was 19 times higher. 

Stanislav Skakun does not agree with the forecasts of colleagues. In his opinion, even the coronavirus pandemic will not globally change people's attitude to health.

Stanislav Skakun, founder of Biodata: "It will take 6-12 months, and we will leave it in 2020. There are millions of years of evolution. We think about what will happen tomorrow, but not in 20 years. For me, the obvious strategy is to think now about how not to get sick in the future. But for 99% of people, this is not obvious. When you tell your interlocutor about what may happen in 20-30 years, he stops listening to you. And this is not about stupidity or short–sightedness - this is how we are made. Therefore, the mass of people will not change their attitude to health. Those who have had the coronavirus will look for ways of rehabilitation and, perhaps, will turn to biohacking."

The entrepreneur believes that taking care of health is either a fashion statement when the rich and famous start playing sports and quit smoking. Or this trend is instilled by the state, which would like us to be able to work longer. "If the state finds a way to extend the average life expectancy to 100 years and let you retire at 80, then it will do so." 

Tips for entrepreneurs 

"It is better to be rich and healthy than poor and sick." Therefore, technologies that allow you to increase productivity, prolong longevity and active years of life will have no problems with demand and payback. The difficulty arises precisely in conducting clinical trials proving the safety and effectiveness of the method or drug. And such studies cost a lot of money, can last for years and do not guarantee a successful outcome. 

According to Yuri Deigin, if a startup already has a base of preclinical research with a patent application filed, then investments to finance the first year of work in Russia will amount from $ 1.5 million. Of these, approximately $ 1 million will be spent directly on research. The remaining 500 thousand dollars are for current expenses, including salaries for employees, office and laboratory rent. In the USA, investments for similar works amount to $ 5 million. 

Vladimir Volobuev believes that often good projects are formed due to their own "pain", personal needs. "Think about what you lack in terms of taking care of yourself or prolonging your life," the businessman advises.

If you want to create a company engaged in biohacking in one form or another, experts recommend paying attention to the following niches:

• Measurement of body markers, including genetic tests. The quantified self movement is gaining popularity now. His followers measure and track the dynamics of health and activity; 
• Personalization of nutrition, sports training, beauty care programs;
• Improving cognitive abilities: concentration, reaction speed and other soft skills;
• Brain-computer interfaces are systems that allow the brain and an electronic device to exchange information. One example of this direction is CTRL–Labs, a company that develops software that allows people to control various gadgets using brain impulses. In 2019, the startup was bought by Facebook, which illustrates the growing interest in the neurotechnology market.
• Sports laboratories;
• Clinics that diagnose diseases in the early stages and help prolong the period of active longevity. Experts pay attention to the growing popularity of preventive medicine.

Where to look for financing?

1) Venture funds and business accelerators. If earlier VC was mainly interested in software, now their attention is also directed to biotech projects. Yuri Deigin believes that Russian entrepreneurs do not have to look for financing exclusively in their own country. Among the well-known international funds and business accelerators: Y Combinator, 500 Startups, Techstars, Starta Accelerator, IndieBio, Zeroto510. 

If we talk about Russia, Ruslan Altaev recommends paying attention to the following funds: 

• Pharmstandard Ventures
• Primer Capital
• RusbioVentures
• NTI
• Bortnik Foundation
• Skolkovo Foundation 

2) Crowdfunding. Given the growing public interest in biohacking and health issues in general, you can turn to crowdfunding – collective fundraising on your own page on a social network, on the company's website or on specialized crowdfunding platforms. For example, the American company Chai Biotechnologies collected almost 203 thousand dollars on KickStarter in 2014. The startup has developed an Open qPCR device that allows you to analyze DNA at home. The creators promise that the invention will help to find out about your genetic predispositions to diseases, to test for HIV or Ebola. The machine will also determine how high-quality and safe your lunch is: whether there are pathogens in it or whether your beef burger contains horsemeat. 

Fight Aging! – a major American resource that tells about projects aimed at combating aging, and helps in their financing. The community already sponsors ten companies, one of which operates under the ambitious motto "making 90 the new 50 by 2030".

To launch Youthereum Genetics, which is also engaged in the fight against aging, Yuri Deigin raised money for research on Facebook: donors donated about 13 thousand dollars. 

International crowdfunding platforms that finance biotech projects can be found on the website biotech-365.com . 

3) Private investors. Private individuals are also interested in financing projects at the junction of biohacking, high technology and medicine. One of the companies that managed to attract such investors is the project of Academician Skulachev. According to the scientist's hypothesis, the human body ages because mitochondria, which perform the function of an energy block in the cell, wear out with age. Skulachev, together with his sons, derived the formula of a substance that can deliver natural antioxidants to cell membranes. According to a study by scientists, this should slow down the aging process. The Mitotech company is engaged in the creation of a drug based on the derived substance. Oleg Deripaska invested in the startup: in 2005, he allocated $ 15 million. After his departure from the project, Mitotech found another investor: Alexander Chikunov, CEO of the Rostock Group. The businessman invested another $ 10 million in the study. 

Where to look for customers?

The demand for health is universal: medicine is expensive, and the presence of chronic diseases significantly reduces the quality and duration of life. Therefore, according to the general opinion of experts, clinically proven approaches, so far related more to biohacking than to evidence-based medicine, will definitely find their audience.

Artem Vasiliev, the creator of the Biohacking Laboratory, recommends looking for clients in areas related to biohacking: medicine, sports, self-education. Marketing tools do not differ from other areas that are more familiar to us, such as working with contextual advertising, social networks, opinion leaders, as well as holding events and partner programs. 

Vladimir Volobuev recommends starting from the requests of the target audience of a particular project. For example, if you specialize in rare diseases, you can study forums where people with similar diagnoses communicate. "If your project is not associated with a large number of clinical trials or long licensing, make an MVP, create 2-3 simple landing pages, set up a target and look at the result. And then talk to the people who decided to buy your product – what motivated them?".

Yuri Deigin says that today there is no proven therapy that would significantly prolong life and youth: such projects are at the stage of clinical or preclinical studies. "There are clinics offering anti-age programs that promise to rejuvenate you for many years. I would call it commercial guile." Since aging is not a disease, businessmen use this trick as an advertisement and are not afraid that regulatory structures, including the Ministry of Health, will ask questions. "If the clinic promises to cure cancer in three procedures, then it threatens criminal liability. But if you promise to rejuvenate the client in three procedures, then no legal sanctions will follow." 

Why have such projects not yet appeared with such a large demand?

• Gerontologists managed to prolong the life of mice by one and a half times, but such therapies did not work on primates or humans because of the complexity of the biology of long-lived creatures – this is the first reason.
• The second, according to Deigin, is the lack of fundamental research in the field of slowing down aging. It is only in the last 10-15 years that the attitude of society towards the topic has begun to change. If earlier this process was perceived as something inevitable, today people understand that it is quite possible to stay young longer. Due to the fact that the trend is relatively new, anti-aging projects still lack laboratories and funding in general. Therefore, as soon as therapies that prolong life by 10-30 years appear, clients will come to them on their own – everyone wants to stay healthy, energetic and beautiful for as long as possible.

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