Dear Life Extension Member,

When our non-profit organization was founded in 1980, our objective was to fund research that would lead to validated therapies to gain control over aging and conquer death. We were ridiculed by mainstream medicine and viciously attacked by the FDA. Through 23 difficult years, we never backed down from our commitment to achieving an indefinitely extended life span.

Against overwhelming odds, we prevailed against the FDA in Congress and the Courts. The medical establishment now endorses many of our controversial protocols, such as taking aspirin and folic acid to reduce heart attack risk.

Our most momentous accomplishment, however, occurred this year when we made a discovery that may forever alter the course of medical history. For the first time, scientists can test potential anti-aging compounds using a technology involving gene chips. Until recently, there was no rapid way of screening for therapies that might slow or reverse aging. Our research can reveal in just a month or two how a compound affects the expression of many of the genes involved in aging and how these genes are affected by life span-extending regimens. We’ve already discovered that metformin is a promising candidate. This gene-chip breakthrough can accelerate enormously the development of effective anti-aging therapies.

The Life Extension Foundation funded this pioneering research project using the proceeds from your membership dues and product purchases. We received no support from commercial companies or government agencies.

The significance of identifying the effects of anti-aging compounds on genes was recently brought to the public’s attention when scientists from Harvard Medical School announced that a constituent of red wine (resveratrol) activated a “longevity gene” that extended life span in yeast by 70%! The media reported extensively on this study and indicated that people might derive some of the age-delaying benefits of calorie restriction by taking a resveratrol supplement.

Before this announcement was made, Life Extension was in the process of adding resveratrol to a product used by most Foundation members. Our purpose of putting in resveratrol was the multi-faceted health benefits that had already been discovered. With evidence that resveratrol might add years of healthy life beyond reducing disease risk, the importance of supplementing with resveratrol has become even more apparent.

You can help us greatly accelerate the pace of genetic research. The Super Sale starts November 24, 2003. This annual winter event enables members to purchase state-of-the-art dietary supplements at extra-discounted prices.

Every time you purchase a supplement from us, you accelerate a massive research program aimed at gaining control over aging. I encourage members to review our new list of the 12 most important supplements and drugs. If you are to benefit from upcoming medical breakthroughs, it is crucial that you maintain yourself in the healthiest state possible.

For longer life,

William Faloon, Director