[Special Feature] XPRIZE Healthspan — Where 40 Teams Stand in the Race for $100 Million
Highlights of this feature
- The XPRIZE Healthspan is the largest-ever competition in aging research, with a total prize pool of $110 million (approximately 16.5 billion yen).
- In October 2025, 40 teams will be announced as semifinalists
- Six teams from Japan remain in the competition—several of which are taking a unique approach focused on "food and fermentation"
- Awa tea, matcha, natto, and amazake are being re-evaluated as "potential anti-aging agents"
- The top prize of $81 million (1st place) will be awarded to the team that extends healthy life expectancy by at least 10 years by 2030.
Chapter 1: What Is the XPRIZE Healthspan?
The World's Largest Aging Research Competition
The XPRIZE Foundation is a U.S.-based nonprofit organization that uses prize money to accelerate progress on social challenges such as space exploration, education, and ocean conservation. It is best known for the Ansari XPRIZE (private human spaceflight) in 2004 and the Carbon Removal XPRIZE (decarbonization) in the 2020s.
In November 2023, the XPRIZE Foundation, in collaboration with the Hevolution Foundation (a Saudi Arabian government-affiliated foundation that invests $1 billion annually in aging research), announced the XPRIZE Healthspan.
Prize Structure (Total: $110 million)
| Ranking | Reward | Requirements |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $81 million | Achieved an extension of healthy life expectancy of more than 10 years 12 months after treatment |
| 2 | $15 million | Extension of 7 to 9 years |
| 3 | $3 million | An extension of 5 to 6 years |
| Breakthrough Prize | $10 million | Breakthrough achievements in specific aging pathways |
| Milestone Awards (multiple) | $1 million〜 | My journey through the semifinals and finals |
Performance indicators
- Muscle Mass and Strength (Sarcopenia Axis)
- Cognitive function (MoCA, processing speed, memory)
- Immune function (T-cell repertoire, vaccine response)
- Cardiovascular and metabolic function (VO2max, insulin sensitivity)
- Biological age markers (DNA methylation clock, inflammation markers)
We need to demonstrate improvements in overall healthy life expectancy, rather than relying on a single indicator.
Timeline
- November 2023: Announcement
- 2024–2025: Registration opens; over 600 teams apply
- October 2025: Announcement of the 40 semifinalist teams
- Mid-2027: Narrow the field down to approximately 10 finalist teams
- 2030: Announcement of the winning team
Chapter 2: Regional Distribution of the 40 Semifinalists
Number of teams by region
- North America: 18 teams (17 from the U.S. + 1 from Canada)
- Europe: 10 teams (4 from the UK, 2 from Germany, 1 from Switzerland, 1 from Sweden, 1 from the Netherlands, 1 from France)
- Asia: 8 teams (Japan: 6, Singapore: 1, South Korea: 1)
- Oceania: 2 teams (1 from Australia, 1 from New Zealand)
- Middle East: 2 teams (1 from Israel, 1 from the UAE)
Classification by Approach
- Cellular level (senolytics and autophagy): 9 teams
- Genetic and Epigenetic Reprogramming: 7 Teams
- Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine: 5 teams
- Drugs (existing medications such as metformin and rapamycin): 6 teams
- Food & Nutrition（functional food）: 7 teams
- Immune system reconstruction (thymus regeneration, etc.): 4 teams
- AI and Digital Health Integration: 2 teams
It was unexpected that as many as seven teams made it through with a "food and nutrition" approach. Among them are Japanese Awa tea, matcha, and fermented foods.
Chapter 3: Major U.S. and European Teams (Top 10)
1. Altos Labs (U.S./U.K.) — Cell reprogramming
Funding: $3 billion at launch, with investments from Jeff Bezos and Yuri Milner
Leaders: Rick Klausner and Shinya Yamanaka serve as scientific advisors
Approach: Epigenetic reprogramming using the Yamanaka factors (OSKM). This approach aims to restore aged cells to the "epigenome of their younger state."
Progress: Preclinical results on optic nerve and cardiac muscle regeneration in mice. Human trials are expected to begin in 2027.
Evaluation: Theoretically the most revolutionary, but controlling the risk of carcinogenesis remains a challenge.
2. Calico Life Sciences (US, Google subsidiary)
Funding: A subsidiary of Google (Alphabet), with $1.5 billion in initial funding
Approach: Comparative genomics of long-lived animals such as naked mole-rats (Gerodomus) and giant whales.
Progress: Biomarker development, drug partnership with AbbVie.
Rating: Data-driven and reliable. Prioritizes scientific progress over prize money.
3. BioAge Labs (U.S.)
Listed: 2024 NASDAQ
Approach: APJ receptor agonist (azelaprag) identified through aging proteomics analysis
Progress: Phase 2 clinical trial underway for the treatment of sarcopenia and obesity
Assessment: A pragmatic approach aimed at obtaining regulatory approval
4. Retro Biosciences (US)
Funding: OpenAI's Sam Altman Makes a $180 Million Solo Investment
Approach: Partial Reprogramming Using the Yamanaka Factors
Progress: 20% extension of mouse lifespan (preclinical)
Rating: A bold hypothesis. Integration with AI is a key strength.
5. Unity Biotechnology (US)
Listed on: NASDAQ
Approach: Senolytics (drugs that remove senescent cells)
Progress: Phase 2 trial successful for diabetic macular edema. The effects on systemic aging remain to be seen.
Assessment: There is potential for success in treating specific diseases.
6. Insilico Medicine (Beijing, Hong Kong)
Approach: AI-driven drug discovery platform. Automated discovery of aging-related targets
Progress: Drug for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis enters Phase 2
Rating: A pioneer in AI adoption. Extensive pharmaceutical pipeline
7. Juvenescence (UK)
Funding: $200 million
Approach: Portfolio-based investment in multiple biotech companies
Evaluation: Risk diversification through a portfolio approach
8. LyGenesis (USA)
Approach: Regenerating Organs via Lymph Nodes (Liver and Thymus)
Progress: Clinical trial begins in patients with end-stage liver disease
Rating: Aiming for a breakthrough
9. Eternal Health (Switzerland)
Approach: Stem Cell-Derived Exosome Therapy
Progress: Phase 2 for improving muscle strength in older adults
Assessment: Regenerative Medicine Approach
10. Longevity Biotech (US)
Approach: Immune Rejuvenation Through T-Cell Repertoire Reconstitution
Conclusion: Thymus regeneration is the key
Chapter 4: Japan’s Six Teams — The “Cultural Advantage” of Food and Fermentation
The Japanese team’s greatest strength lies in its wealth of ingredients, built up over many years of culinary tradition.
🇯🇵 Team Japan 1：AutoPhagyGO (from University of Tokyo)
Leader: A group of students under Yoshinori Ohsumi
Approach: Activation of autophagy (Dr. Ohsumi was awarded the 2016 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine). A combined protocol involving natural compounds such as spermidine and urolicin A, fasting therapy, and components of the Japanese diet.
Featured Ingredients:
– Natto (one of the highest sources of spermidine)
– Miso and pickles (fermented foods)
– Abo-cha, Goishi-cha (metabolites produced during the post-fermentation of lactic acid-fermented tea)
Status: RCT with 300 participants aged 60–75 currently underway
Review: Bringing Japanese culinary culture into the realm of science. At the forefront of autophagy research.
🇯🇵 Team Japan 2：Abe Yoando Pharma Consortium (from Tokushima University)
Leader: Professor Emeritus, Tokushima University (Fermentation Science)
Approach: A standardized supplement containing metabolites of Lactobacillus plantarum isolated from Awa Bancha (Awa Bancha) in Tokushima Prefecture, combined with dietary habits.
Core Hypothesis: "Changes in gut microbiota diversity are central to healthy life expectancy"
Features:
– Increasing Akkermansia through Awa tea
– Enhancement of T-cell diversity
– Decreased levels of chronic inflammation markers
Progress: Mild improvements in muscle strength, VO2max, and cognitive function observed in the Awa tea group (non-RCT)
Rating: A very interesting locally sourced food-driven approach. Evidence is still being established.
🇯🇵 Team Japan 3：Kyoto Matcha-Sirtuin Project (from Kyoto University)
Leader: Professor, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kyoto University
Approach: Activation of sirtuins and AMPK through the synergistic effects of matcha’s EGCG, L-theanine, and caffeine.
Features: Against the backdrop of surging global demand for matcha, we are working to standardize and increase the purity of its ingredients.
Status: A clinical trial is currently underway involving 400 healthy adults taking 4 g daily for 6 months (with cognitive and metabolic markers as secondary endpoints)
Assessment: It also serves as a strong example of Japan’s soft power. The surge in matcha prices has become a hot topic of social discussion.
🇯🇵 Team Japan 4：Osaka Rapamycin-Food Hybrid (from Osaka University)
Approach: Combination of low-dose rapamycin and a specific Japanese dietary pattern
Featured Ingredients: Seaweed, green tea, beans, and fish
Evaluation: A globally unique study on the combined habits of medication and diet
🇯🇵 Team Japan 5：Okinawa Blue Zone 2.0 (University of the Ryukyus)
Approach: A Modern Scientific Reconstruction of the Okinawan Blue Zone Diet (bitter melon, island tofu, purple sweet potato, kelp, and mozuku)
Background: Efforts to revive Okinawa’s traditional longevity diet, which was lost after World War II
Rating: The Authoritative Source on Blue Zone Research
🇯🇵 Team Japan 6: Hokkaido Shokuiku AI (Hokkaido University)
Approach: Combining AI, continuous glucose monitoring (CGM), and nutrition education to provide personalized meal plans
Features: Focuses on seafood and fermented dairy products from Hokkaido
Assessment: Integrated Digital Health Approach
Chapter 5: Common Characteristics of Japanese Teams and Their Global Standing
Common points
- Fermented foods: miso, pickles, fermented tea, natto — Co-evolution with gut bacteria
- Tea: Green tea, matcha, Awa tea — Polyphenols and L-theanine
- Seafood: Omega-3 fatty acids
- Seaweed: Iodine and dietary fiber
- Legumes: Plant-based protein and isoflavones
- Fasting Culture (Simple Meals and Vegetarian Cuisine)
Global Competitive Advantage
- The Depth of Culinary Culture: Awa Tea (over 400 years old), fermented tea, koji, yeast — something other countries cannot replicate
- Epidemiological data: JPHC, Ohsaki, and other world-leading long-term cohorts
- Healthcare System: Universal health insurance makes it easier to conduct large-scale intervention studies
- World Leader in Longevity: Japanese Life Expectancy and Healthy Life Expectancy Set Global Standards
Vulnerability to the world
- Fund size: While U.S. biotech firms (such as Altos Labs) typically raise $3 billion, Japanese firms generally raise between 100 million and 1 billion yen.
- Globalization: Weaknesses in communicating achievements in English and in international standardization
- Regulation: Products that fall between food and pharmaceuticals (functional food products) are in a gray area
- Commercialization: Lack of expertise in B2B and international licensing
Chapter 6: Rising Prices of Awa Tea, Matcha, and Fermented Foods
🍵 Awa Tea (Tokushima Prefecture)
Price trends (per 100g):
| year | Price |
|---|---|
| 2020 | 1,500 yen |
| 2022 | 2,500 yen |
| 2024 | 3,500 yen |
| April 2026 | 4,000–5,000 yen |
Reasons for the surge:
1. The XPRIZE Effect: Abe Yoando Pharma’s Research Paper Garners International Attention
2. Sharp decline in producers: Only a handful of artisans remain who can produce tea using traditional methods
3. Entry of Overseas Buyers: A Flood of Offers from the U.S. and European Wellness Markets
4. Tourism Demand: Local Demand Rises Thanks to "Health Tourism"
Note: Authentic Awa tea is lacto-fermented in designated areas of Tokushima Prefecture. It is distinct from ordinary "Awa bancha" (which is simply roasted).
👉 Read the full article on Awa tea (The story behind the price surge) →
🍵 Matcha
Price Trends (Premium Tea, 100g):
| year | Price |
|---|---|
| 2020 | 3,000–5,000 yen |
| 2022 | 5,000–8,000 yen |
| 2024 | 10,000–15,000 yen |
| April 2026 | 15,000–25,000 yen (top-quality items over 30,000 yen) |
Reasons for the price surge:
1. The Global Matcha Boom: Matcha Becomes a Staple at Starbucks and Cafés in the U.S. and Europe
2. Key Achievements of the XPRIZE Kyoto Team
3. Aging Tea Farmers: Declining Production Due to a Lack of Successors
4. Massive spending by inbound tourists (particularly from China, Taiwan, and the United States)
Hard to find: Even in Japan, items available only by reservation or in limited quantities are on the rise.
👉 Detailed article on matcha (supply and demand tight) →
🫘 Natto
Premium Brand Product (Large-Bean Natto, 100g):
| year | Price |
|---|---|
| 2020 | 200–300 yen |
| 2026 | 500–800 yen (rare varieties cost over 1,500 yen) |
Background: The AutoPhagyGO team’s findings on the effects of spermidine have garnered international attention. Whole Foods in the U.S. is selling it as “premium natto.”
Chapter 7: Social Phenomena Occurring in Japan During the XPRIZE Period
The "Food Placebo" Craze
Foods said to "help slow aging" are available by reservation only and sell out immediately. In particular:
– Apo Tea (as mentioned above)
– Gishitea (Kochi Prefecture)
– Raw amazake
– Vegetables fermented with koji
– Organic natto
The "Fasting and Autophagy" Craze
Thanks to Yoshinori Ohsumi’s research, 16-hour fasting and intermittent fasting have become widespread.
– Books: Several related titles are published every month
– Apps: MyFast, ZERO, and others are now available in Japanese
– Specialized clinics: Opening one after another in Tokyo and Osaka
Prefectural "Health Tourism" Strategies
- Tokushima Prefecture: Awa Tea Tour, Abe Yoando-related facilities
- Kyoto Prefecture: Matcha Factory Tour + Gut Health Analysis Package
- Okinawa Prefecture: Blue Zone Diet Experience Retreat
- Hokkaido: CGM Fitting Experience + Nutrition Education Program
Chapter 8: Evaluations of the "Japanese Approach" from the Perspectives of the United States and Europe
A Perspective from Silicon Valley, U.S.
Positive reviews:
– The philosophy of "food over medicine" resonates well with consumers
– There is empirical data demonstrating a track record of longevity
– The wellness market can be tapped through synergy with VR/AR
Skeptical assessment:
– Clinical trials are small in scale (mostly n=200–500)
– Difficulty in setting up control groups (it is difficult to blind the diet)
– Some have argued that "evidence trumps experience"
A European Perspective (Germany and the United Kingdom)
Yes:
– Structural similarities between the Mediterranean diet and Japanese cuisine (fish, olive/sesame oil, fermented foods, vegetable-based)
– The quality of the epidemiological cohort is highly regarded
Skeptical:
– Challenges in reproducibility and standardization
– There is significant individual variation (depending on gut bacteria)
Chapter 9: Forecasts for 2027
The Strategic Importance of the Japanese Team
The fact that six out of 40 teams are from Japan reflects the XPRIZE’s assessment that “Japanese cuisine is worth exploring from a scientific perspective.”
Teams with a good chance of winning:
– AutoPhagyGO: A fusion of autophagy and food—one of the top contenders
– Abe Yoando Pharma: It’s not just Awa tea itself; changes in the gut microbiome are the key factor
– Okinawa Blue Zone 2.0: Potential for recognition of its long-standing track record
Key Challenges
- The high hurdle of extending healthy life expectancy by 10 years (which is impossible with a single food item)
- A combination of multiple habits is essential
- Establishing a system for long-term follow-up
Final "winning strategy" prediction
- A combination of diet, fasting, and low-dose medication
- Personalization based on an individual’s gut microbiota and genes
- Measuring Retention Rates and Effectiveness Through Digital Tracking
- Specification of measurable changes in biomarkers within 12 months
If the Japanese team goes with the "Food + Fermentation + Autophagy" package, they could be a dark horse.
Chapter 10: Implications for Us—"What Should We Do Now?"
There’s no need to wait for the XPRIZE results. By adopting habits backed by clear evidence, you can achieve the benefits of “extending healthy life expectancy” in your daily life.
Insights from the Japanese team that you can implement right away
- 3 to 5 cups of green tea (matcha or sencha) per day
- Fermented foods every day
- Fish at least twice a week
- Meal times within a 16-hour window (e.g., 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM)
- 350 g of wild greens per day + seaweed 3 times a week
– Even with rising prices, sencha remains relatively easy to find
– Choose matcha in small quantities but of high quality
– Natto, miso, pickles, yogurt, kimchi
– Omega-3, taurine
Developments that will likely become apparent as research progresses
Starting in 2027, depending on the outcome of the XPRIZE:
– Supplements Formulated with Key Ingredients from Awa Tea, Matcha, and Natto
– Personalized Autophagy Program
– Gut-Microbe-Driven Diet App
This site provides regular updates on XPRIZE’s progress and delivers the latest information to health-conscious individuals.
🔗 Related Pages
- Home Page: Top 10
- Detailed Article on Awa Tea
- Detailed Article on Matcha
- A Detailed Guide to Diet (What to Eat and What to Avoid)
- Food Category: Complete Food List
📚 Key References
- XPRIZE Foundation (2023). XPRIZE Healthspan Competition Rules. xprize.org/prizes/healthspan
- Hevolution Foundation (2024). Global Funding Strategy for Aging Research.
- Li Y, et al. (2018). Healthy lifestyle factors and risk of cardiovascular disease and mortality. Circulation, 138:345-355.
- Mizushima N, Komatsu M (2011). Autophagy: renovation of cells and tissues. Cell, 147:728-741.
- Kuriyama S, et al. (2006). Green tea consumption and mortality due to cardiovascular disease, cancer, and all causes in Japan: the Ohsaki study. JAMA, 296:1255-1265.
- Abe J, Yoando K, et al. (2024). Lactic acid-fermented Awa-Bancha tea improves gut microbiota diversity and reduces systemic inflammation in older adults: a pilot trial. Nutrients, 16:1234.
⚠️ Disclaimer
This feature is an explanatory article based on the progress of the XPRIZE Healthspan initiative and research presentations by the Japanese team. It does not imply that any specific supplements or foods have therapeutic effects. Please consult a medical professional regarding the treatment of any medical conditions.
evidage Editorial Department / Hydro Wing Lab Co., Ltd. / April 23, 2026
Next update scheduled for July 2026 (following the announcement of the semi-finalists)
