Biotech CEO to Pitch Longevity Science at Key DC Policy Summit

HOUSTON, TX – February 10, 2026 – In a move that signals the growing convergence of cutting-edge science and national health policy, Pete O’Heeron, the Chairman and CEO of FibroBiologics, has been selected as a main stage speaker for the upcoming H-SPAN Summit at Georgetown University. The event, a high-profile gathering of researchers, biotech leaders, and policymakers, places the Houston-based company at the center of a crucial dialogue aimed at extending healthy human lifespan through legislative action.

O'Heeron's invitation to address the summit, scheduled for June 29–July 1, 2026, underscores the increasing influence of companies developing novel therapeutics for chronic, age-related diseases. He is expected to discuss breakthroughs in cellular therapeutics and the complex journey of translating laboratory discoveries into tangible clinical impact for patients.

The New Frontier: Longevity on the Legislative Agenda

The H-SPAN Summit is hosted by the Alliance for Longevity Initiatives (A4LI), a 501(c)(4) advocacy organization working to accelerate policies that promote healthier, longer lives. The event is not merely an academic conference; its three-day structure is designed to forge a direct path from scientific presentation to political action. Day one focuses on research, day two on innovation policy, and the summit culminates in a Congressional Briefing and Hill Day, where attendees will engage directly with members of Congress and their staff.

This push for policy change comes as advocates highlight a significant funding disparity. Despite aging being a primary driver of the nation's most prevalent and costly diseases, less than 1% of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) budget is specifically allocated to studying the biology of aging. A4LI and its partners are working to change that, engaging with bodies like the newly formed Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H) and the Congressional Longevity Science Caucus to champion geroscience as a national priority.

“We are proud to have Pete represent FibroBiologics on the H-SPAN stage,” said Dylan Livingston, Founder and CEO of the Alliance For Longevity Initiatives. “Thymic regenerative biology is a potentially transformative area of research for extending healthy human lifespan, and Pete is a trailblazer in this space. FibroBiologics’ commitment to addressing chronic diseases aligns directly with the goals of the summit and A4LI’s mission of accelerating innovation that extends human healthspan.”

A Pioneer in Fibroblast Therapeutics

Pete O’Heeron is not a newcomer to medical innovation. An inventor with over 350 issued and pending patents, his career spans more than two decades in medical technology and biotech development. Before founding FibroBiologics, he founded and later sold NeoSurg Technologies, a minimally invasive surgical device company, to Cooper Surgical. His background in identifying and developing technologies with strong intellectual property has positioned FibroBiologics as a formidable player in the regenerative medicine space.

Under his leadership, the company has staked its future on a unique cellular platform: fibroblasts. While much of the cell therapy world has focused on various types of stem cells, FibroBiologics argues that fibroblasts—the most common cells in human connective tissue—are a more potent, abundant, and efficient source for therapies. The company claims these cells are easier and cheaper to source and culture, have a faster doubling rate, and possess powerful regenerative and immune-modulating properties.

This focused approach has resulted in an extensive intellectual property portfolio, with over 270 patents issued or pending for treatments across a wide range of chronic conditions, including multiple sclerosis, degenerative disc disease, wound healing, and human longevity.

“I’m honored to be selected as one of the main stage speakers for the H-SPAN Summit and to contribute to this important national dialogue,” said Pete O’Heeron. “FibroBiologics is committed to advancing therapies that prevent and treat chronic disease along with extending human life, and summits like this are essential for aligning scientific innovation with policy action.”

From Lab to Law: The Challenge of Clinical Translation

The central theme of O'Heeron's upcoming talk—translating research into real-world impact—highlights a critical challenge for the entire biotech industry. FibroBiologics is actively navigating this process with a growing pipeline of therapies. The company has received approval in Australia to begin a 120-patient Phase 1/2 clinical trial for its diabetic foot ulcer treatment, CYWC628, with results anticipated by the end of 2026. It is also advancing preclinical, IND-enabling studies for its fibroblast-based treatments for multiple sclerosis (CYMS101) and psoriasis (CYPS317), with promising early data suggesting its psoriasis therapy could match or exceed the durability of current leading biologics.

Successfully bringing these therapies to market, however, requires a clear and efficient regulatory framework. This is where the policy discussions at H-SPAN become paramount. Advocacy groups like A4LI are pushing for initiatives such as an "Advanced Approval Pathway for Longevity Medicines (AAPLM)," modeled after the FDA's existing Accelerated Approval Pathway. Such a pathway could incentivize investment and speed up the availability of drugs that target the underlying mechanisms of aging by allowing approval based on surrogate endpoints, rather than waiting years for data on lifespan extension itself.

Navigating a Competitive and Evolving Field

FibroBiologics is carving out its niche in an increasingly competitive and well-funded longevity sector. The field is populated by a diverse range of companies exploring everything from cellular reprogramming and gene therapy to novel anti-aging drugs. Prominent players like Altos Labs, BioAge Labs, and Life Biosciences are attracting billions in investment, each with a different scientific approach to tackling age-related decline.

In this dynamic environment, FibroBiologics' dedicated focus on its proprietary fibroblast platform serves as a key differentiator. By positioning itself as an expert in what it calls a more effective and accessible cell source, the company aims to stand out. Its participation in a policy-focused event like the H-SPAN Summit represents a strategic move to not only validate its science but also help shape the legislative environment it will operate in. As the science of longevity matures from a theoretical pursuit into a clinical reality, the dialogue between innovators and policymakers is becoming more critical than ever. The summit in Georgetown this summer is poised to be a key forum where the future of human healthspan is not just imagined in a lab, but actively debated for implementation in the real world.