As XPRIZE Healthspan moves into its finalist and clinical trial phase, BHI Therapeutic Sciences is proud to recognize an important achievement in our history: earning semifinalist status in the $101M XPRIZE Healthspan competition.

Launched in November 2023, XPRIZE Healthspan is a seven-year global competition focused on improving how people age. More than 800 teams from around the world signed up to participate, making it one of the largest and most competitive health initiatives of its kind.

Teams were challenged to develop approaches that could restore muscle, cognitive, and immune function by at least 10 years, with a goal of achieving 20 years of functional improvement after one year or less of intervention, as defined by the competition.

Reaching the semifinal stage required a strong scientific rationale, supporting evidence, safety and regulatory planning, qualified clinical partners, and a realistic path toward human research. Proposed approaches also had to demonstrate the potential to be accessible and scalable.

BHI Therapeutic Sciences proudly achieved semifinalist status. This accomplishment reflects the dedication and expertise of our leadership, physicians, researchers, Scientific Advisory Board, clinical collaborators, and supporting professionals.

The BHI Therapeutic Sciences XPRIZE team was led by:

Brian Mehling, M.D., Founder and CMO, is a board-certified orthopedic trauma surgeon who is also board-certified in anti-aging and regenerative medicine through A4M. He is affiliated with several medical centers in the NY/NJ tri-state area and brings extensive experience in orthopedics, regenerative medicine, and clinical research.

Doreen Santora, RN, MHA, CEO, has more than 25 years of healthcare management experience, including serving as Senior VP of Operations at Hackensack University Medical Center, one of the largest providers of high quality, compassionate patient care in the nation. She leads BHI’s operations, clinical administration, organizational management, and quality assurance activities.

Katarina Novakova, MSc, served as President of BHI Slovakia during the competition. She is a seasoned transatlantic executive who led the establishment of a stem cell research center in Europe and coordinated U.S. and EU licensing and regulatory matters. She is a member of the World Economic Forum’s New Champions community.

The team was supported by Scientific Advisory Board members including Vicky Yamamoto, PhD, cancer scientist at the Keck School of Medicine of USC and Executive Director of the Society for Brain Mapping and Therapeutics; Michael L. Platt, PhD, James S. Riepe University Professor at the University of Pennsylvania; and David Calkins, PhD, VP for Research at Vanderbilt University Medical Center and Director of the Vanderbilt Vision Research Center.

In August 2026, XPRIZE announced the 20 teams advancing into the finalist phase. Ten received $1M each to support further development and clinical testing. Finalist trials will take place between 2026 and 2029, and the competition is expected to conclude in 2030 with a grand prize of up to $81M.

BHI Therapeutic Sciences plans to build on the research protocols developed during our participation in XPRIZE Healthspan. Any future research would enroll eligible research participants only when all applicable clinical, ethical, regulatory, and institutional requirements have been met.

BHI’s cellular and exosome products are investigational and are not approved by the U.S. FDA. They are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. This announcement is for informational purposes and is not medical advice.

For information about our research, contact info@bluehorizoninternational.com.

To learn more about BHI Therapeutic Sciences, visit BlueHorizonInternational.com.

We congratulate the teams moving forward and thank XPRIZE, Hevolution Foundation, SOLVE FSHD, GSK, the scientific advisors, benefactors, and partners who made this global initiative possible.

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