Mountain View, CA – Google has established a new company named Calico, designed to focus on health, well‑being and the challenges of aging and its associated diseases, according to the company.
Calico will be led by Arthur D. Levinson, former CEO of Genentech and current Chairman of Apple, who will serve as Chief Executive Officer and founding investor, the company said. Levinson will retain his roles at Genentech and Apple.
The company said that its mission is to apply long‑term, ambitious thinking to healthcare and biotechnology, with the aim of improving human lifespan and quality of life. It claims to benefit from Google’s investment in speculative projects that fall outside its core internet business.
Viewing aging and illness as universal human challenges, the company stated that progress is expected over reasonable timescales when guided by the right goals and leadership. Bill Maris and Sergey Brin are credited with backing the venture through internal support and funding.
Calico is structured as a standalone entity focused entirely on aging research, diverging from Google’s typical focus. The company said this approach signifies a shift toward moonshot investments in health and biotechnology, built on Google’s long‑term investment philosophy.
