Real Science Only: Singapore takes aim at dodgy players in booming longevity market.
Singapore’s longevity boom is about to face a regulatory reckoning.
Lately, there has been a surge of products and services promising longer, healthier lives but backed by widely varying levels of scientific evidence. Anti-ageing supplements, biological age tests and longevity clinics are becoming increasingly common as more people look for ways to stay healthy for longer.
The promises are appealing. These interventions purport to slow ageing, extend lifespan or
help people remain active and independent well into later life.
But as the longevity market expands, regulators say the science behind many of these
products is not always clear.
Speaking at a conference organised by the NUS Academy for Healthy Longevity, the Health Sciences Authority CEO Raymond Chua said the growing number of longevity products entering the market has created new challenges.
“There is a proliferation of products entering the market with varying levels of clinical evidence. This includes products ranging from health supplements to digital
applications, and even to diagnostics and repurposed drugs. This creates consumer
confusion between well-researched interventions and those with limited evidence or
unsubstantiated claims.”
Going behind the hype
HSA’s big challenge now is to ensure that the excitement surrounding longevity science
does not outpace the evidence.
By clarifying rules and strengthening oversight, it hopes to create a longevity
market and where genuine scientific breakthroughs can stand out from marketing hype so consumers can make informed decisions.
As interest in living longer and healthier lives continues to grow, building that trust may
become just as important as the innovations themselves.
“We may not aim to be the loudest voice in longevity innovation. But we should be among
the most trusted. The future of healthy ageing depends not on any single breakthrough, but
on our collective commitment to evidence-based, ethically grounded progress. We must
align innovation with evidence, anchor our progress in ethics, and move forward together as
a unified ecosystem,” said Chua, adding that he believes Singapore can serve as a global exemplar of responsible longevity innovation
New rules by 2028
The regulatory update is expected to strengthen oversight of product safety, manufacturing
quality and marketing practices.
Singapore says the goal is not to slow scientific progress but to allow legitimate innovations to develop while preventing misleading claims from proliferating.
HSA expects to consult researchers, healthcare professionals and industry stakeholders as
part of the review, with the updated framework expected to be finalised by around 2028.
Today, the HSA applies a risk-based framework to longevity-related products. Higher-risk products that claim to treat or prevent disease must undergo rigorous evaluation
for safety, quality and efficacy before approval. Examples include medications used in
clinical settings for conditions such as osteoporosis or diabetes prevention.
Products that make more general health-support claims, however, are typically regulated as
supplements and face lighter oversight.
HSA’s challenge
One reason the longevity field is difficult to regulate is that ageing itself is complex.
Researchers are studying various biological signals – known as biomarkers – that may
reflect how quickly the body is ageing.
However, scientists have not yet agreed on which biomarkers reliably predict long-term
outcomes such as improved health, reduced frailty or longer life.
“For example, if a biomarker improves, does frailty actually decline? The time horizon of ageing science challenges conventional clinical validation timelines,” said Chua.
In other words, even if a product changes certain biological markers, it does not necessarily
mean it will help people live longer or healthier lives.
Chua added: “Amid this uncertainty, consumer confusion can arise, making collaboration not just beneficial but essential. We need the collective wisdom of researchers, clinicians,
industry, and regulators working together.”
While future therapies may help extend healthspan, everyday habits such as regular
physical activity, balanced diets, preventive healthcare and strong social ties remain central
to long-term wellbeing.
Even as longevity science evolves, Chua emphasised that the foundations of healthy ageing
remain: “True longevity is built on fundamentals – movement, nutrition, prevention and connection – complemented, where evidence supports it, by innovation.”