Popular biohacker and billionaire Brian Johnson faced a gene therapy that is banned in the United States. This detail comes from Unilad’s reporting on the matter [Citation: Unilad].
Johnson traveled to an island off the coast of Honduras where he underwent follistatin gene therapy, a treatment not approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The procedure carried a price tag of about $20,000, equivalent to roughly 1.75 million rubles. The choice reflects a willingness to pursue experimental approaches in the quest for longevity, even as regulatory bodies in the United States would not sanction such an intervention for public use [Citation: Unilad].
The entrepreneur has stated publicly that he hopes this therapy could extend his life to 120 years. He had been contemplating a procedure of this kind for years, but concerns about potential DNA interference and the risk of malignant tumor development have weighed heavily on his decision-making process. The tension between ambitious aging research and safety considerations remains at the forefront of discussions surrounding such interventions [Citation: Unilad].
Born in 1977, Johnson has built a reputation as an investor in startups and technology firms, yet he is best known for his aggressive efforts to slow aging. Reports indicate he allocates roughly $2 million each year to his rejuvenation regimen, underscoring a commitment that goes far beyond typical wellness routines. His approach to longevity combines financial investment with a willingness to explore controversial methods [Citation: Unilad].
Among the methods he has reportedly pursued are giving his 17-year-old son blood transfusions, strict dietary protocols, and injections of fat harvested from young donors. He has also recently discussed the use of shockwave therapy as a means to address erectile dysfunction. These practices illustrate a broader pattern of high-risk experimentation sometimes associated with elite longevity circles, raising questions about safety, ethics, and long-term effects [Citation: Unilad].
In another note from earlier reporting, it was mentioned that Durov may have planned travel to Central Asia to study local Telegram users, suggesting an interest in data and user behavior as part of broader technological explorations. This point reflects the wide-ranging and sometimes controversial ambitions that have surrounded Johnson and colleagues in the wellness technology space [Citation: Unilad].