A team of scientists in Japan, led by former University of Tokyo immunology professor Toru Miyazaki, is developing a vaccine that could revolutionize feline health by extending the average lifespan of cats to 30 years. This treatment, expected to hit the global market as early as 2025, builds on Miyazaki’s groundbreaking 1999 research on treating kidney disease in cats.
The core of Miyazaki’s discovery involves a protein known as the apoptosis inhibitor of macrophages or AIM. Discovered during his studies in Switzerland, this protein plays a crucial role in kidney protection by helping remove dead cells and waste from the body. Essentially, AIM works like a biological “drain cleaner,” clearing cellular debris and improving kidney function.
Miyazaki’s interest in feline health deepened after realizing that kidney disease is one of the leading causes of death in cats, typically developing around age 5 and becoming fatal near age 15. To address this, he focused on how the unique amino acid composition of feline AIM differs from that of other animals, such as dogs and humans, and how it could be adapted for therapeutic use.
In 2017, Miyazaki founded L’Aimia, a company dedicated to applying his research to AIM-based therapies. Following media coverage that raised awareness among cat owners and enthusiasts, he secured funding to advance his work — leading to the launch of AIM30 therapeutic cat food in 2023 and the submission for global vaccine approval.
Clinical trials for the AIM vaccine are currently underway, with promising early results. While the vaccine doesn’t completely cure kidney disease, it appears to significantly slow its progression, potentially allowing cats to live much longer, healthier lives.
If the final trials continue to show success, cat lovers around the world could begin seeing the benefits of this groundbreaking therapy as early as 2025. 🐾