Anyone who's ever had to part with a cherished pet understands the longing for a bit more time with them.

Imagine if there was a pill that could make that possible.

Last week (26 February), biotech startup Loyal revealed that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) had recognized its new medication - an anti-aging pill for dogs - as having a 'reasonable expectation of efficacy.'

As dogs grow older, their metabolic health - the efficiency of converting food into energy - naturally diminishes, potentially leading to issues like appetite changes and weight gain.

The medication - a beef-flavored pill - is designed to bolster this in dogs aged '10 years and older' and weighing 'at least 14 lbs.'

However, while the company suggests the drug might extend a dog's healthy years by at least one year, they do not claim to have discovered a miracle cure.

Celine Halioua, Loyal’s founder and CEO, told The Guardian: "We’re not making immortal dogs. We hypothesize that the drug extends lifespan by enhancing health, thereby slowing the aging process."

Currently, the company is pursuing FDA approval to ensure the anti-aging pill is safe and can be mass-produced.

They assert they have 'extensive data supporting both' and aim to secure approval by the end of 2025.

Yet, a significant question remains. If a drug can extend the lives of our furry companions, could it have similar effects on humans?

A new anti-aging pill for dogs has been certified by the FDA as having 'reasonable expectation of efficacy' (Getty Stock Images)

The Dog Aging Project is investigating whether rapamycin - a drug used to prevent rejection in human organ transplants - could enhance a dog's heart and cognitive functions, thereby extending their life by up to three years.

This research could also have significant implications for human anti-aging.

Daniel Promislow, a biogerontologist and co-director of the Dog Aging Project, remarked: "Our work is equivalent to a 40-year-long human study, testing a drug's potential to increase healthy lifespan.

"If we succeed with dogs, it could be a pivotal moment in understanding how to extend healthy lifespans in humans too."

The pill could provide answers on how to extend human lifespans too (Getty Stock Images)

Additionally, Tom Rando, director of the University of California’s Broad Stem Cell Research Center, suggests that research from Loyal and the Dog Aging Project could be a crucial 'piece in the puzzle' for extending human lifespans.

"The closer the animal model is to humans, the more confidence we can have that our longevity drugs will be effective in humans as well.

"Having evidence of efficacy and safety in dogs boosts our confidence for conducting human trials with these same drugs."