Immortal Dragons Will Help Etheros Target Aging and Related Diseases

The $40 million, purpose-driven longevity fund Immortal Dragons, headquartered in Singapore, has announced a strategic investment in the Nashville, Tenn.-based biotechnology company Etheros Pharmaceuticals, which Immortal Dragons said is developing a new class of drugs that not only combat diseases of aging, but may also decelerate the human aging process (1).

A press release from Immortal Dragons said the foundational science behind Etheros’ platform has yielded promising results, mostly in mice—including a median lifespan extension of 14% when dosed from middle age (1; see Figure). Etheros’ lead compound, which is now being advanced, has shown normalizing effects in a mouse model of Alzheimer’s disease, and other early research has demonstrated neuroprotective effects in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and Parkinson’s disease models.

What’s behind the science in this class of drugs?

Etheros focuses on water-soluble fullerene derivatives that act as catalytic antioxidants, neutralizing oxidative stress thought to be an indicator of cellular damage and other conditions relating to age (1). According to the Immortal Dragons press release, fullerene chemistry evolved following the 1985 discovery of the C60 carbon sphere, for which the Nobel Prize in Chemistry was awarded (1).

C60 is insoluble in water, but Etheros has developed proprietary, water-soluble derivatives (1). The role of antioxidants as stabilizers was explored by Pharmaceutical Technology® and BioPharm International® in the October 2025 Trends in Formulation eBook (2).

Oxidative damage has been known to contribute to multiple chronic illnesses, from neurodegeneration to cardiovascular disease, and according to Etheros, it may possibly spur damaging effects on the aging process itself.

What are the two companies saying about the partnership?

“Etheros represents an investment in a differentiated platform addressing oxidative stress through catalytic antioxidants,” Boyang Wang, founder of Immortal Dragons, said in the press release (1). “Their approach to this fundamental aspect of aging biology complements our portfolio strategy and contributes to our mission in the longevity space.”

“Immortal Dragons are both bold and thoughtful,” Jack Scannell, PhD, CEO of Etheros, said in the release (1). “That is a difficult mix to get right. And from a practical perspective, they have also been great to work with, really supportive.”

What’s next? What are the broader implications for industry?

Etheros hopes to continue the development of its lead compound toward human clinical trials, with initial proof-of-concept—in indications with clear biomarkers and clinical endpoints—a core strategy (1).

The company said it is taking a multi-pronged approach to achieve these goals, reflected in numerous milestones: completing regulatory studies for an Investigational New Drug filing, scale-up of manufacturing consistent with good manufacturing practice standards, and development of biomarkers that can measure drug activity in both animal studies and human trials (1). In these ways, the company said, it can build a long-term platform for major age-related diseases.

References

1. Immortal Dragons. Immortal Dragons Backs Etheros Pharmaceuticals: Targeting Aging-Related Disease with Breakthrough Catalytic Antioxidants. Press Release. Dec. 2, 2025.
2. Owens, L. and Zhang, Y. Selecting the Right Drug Delivery Formulations to Enhance Patient-Centric Care. BioPharm International®/ Pharmaceutical Technology®/ Pharmaceutical Technology® Europe Trends in Formulation eBook 2025 October.