pump.science: pump.fun for scientific research
Anonymous Analyst
Papers
$URO and $RIF are the first two tokens launched on the scientific experiment launchpad pump.science. pump.science enables scientists to raise research funding by tokenizing compounds under investigation, initially in longevity research, turning both the scientific community and crypto users into patrons and potentially stakeholders in scientific breakthroughs. If composite testing is funded through sufficient token purchases, the experiment will commence, and data will be streamed back to users to create a continuous matrix for speculating on the initial funds from users.
$URO is the first token launched on pump.science, the token behind Urolithin A, a compound found in pomegranates that is being studied for its ability to improve mitochondrial function and cellular health. Meanwhile, $RIF symbolizes Rifampicin, a well-researched antibiotic that is currently being investigated for its potential anti-aging benefits. Both tokens present unique opportunities in the emerging decentralized science (DeSci) ecosystem.
Funding for longevity research is constrained by traditional grant cycles and limited venture capital interest. By introducing mechanisms for anyone to fund research through tokenization, pump.science is realizing financial incentives, accelerating the development of anti-aging therapies, and ultimately forming a market for anti-aging therapies where product revenues reward token holders of each specific product.
Overview of the Pump. Science
pump.science leverages memecoin tokenomics to drive scientific research. Each compound submission creates a token on pump.science, raising funds through token trading. When market cap milestones are reached, the compound 'unlocks' new experiments.
If token prices rise and generate more fees to fund research, the compound will develop into more complex model organisms. This culminates in human studies and the commercialization of the compound. If users purchase physical products, the revenue will be used to buy back and burn the underlying tokens of the compound.
The exact experimental protocol currently involves C. elegans (worms), followed by flies, mice, and humans. The lifespan of worms and flies has been tested as they can be measured on a short time scale of 30 days and 90 days respectively. Mice can live over 2 years, which is too long to capture the attention of token holders. Therefore, elderly mice will undergo functional (rather than lifespan) testing to see if the compound can improve their endurance, which serves as a proxy for longevity. Similarly, humans will undergo placebo-controlled tests and assess health biomarkers, including VO2 max, which are most relevant to human longevity.
Ultimately, the pump.science experimental protocol may change, attempting to find the intersection between scientific validity, value, and entertainment. The success of pump.science must meet all three criteria. At the end of the day, every token holder of pump.science is betting on the memetic value of the compound. While the compound will continue to be tested in higher-order model organisms and humans (where possible) and has scientific and IP value, most early participants in this market are betting on the mimetic value of the compound. If the compound produces valuable products, the scientific value should drive its memetic value, especially with token buyback and burn mechanisms.
Overview of $URO
$URO symbolizes Urolithin A, a compound that has shown positive effects on mitochondrial health in improving mouse and human studies. It promotes the degradation of damaged mitochondria (mitophagy) and the formation of new mitochondria.
$URO is a dark horse. Currently, in the shadow of $RIF, it has more evidence supporting its longevity benefits. A human clinical trial showed that Urolithin A increased muscle strength in middle-aged adults by 12% by improving mitochondrial efficiency and reducing inflammation. In the same trial, authors indicated that participants supplementing with 1000 mg of Urolithin A daily had a 10% increase in VO2 max, the best predictor of human longevity, suggesting that Urolithin A may be a longevity-promoting compound. Research also indicates that Urolithin A's capability to enhance mitochondrial function has implications for aging and disease management, particularly in Parkinson's disease.
At certain points, the market cap of $URO has been smaller than that of $RIF, indicating tremendous growth potential, especially if the DeSci narrative gains further traction. The focus on Urolithin A for anti-aging and health enhancement is supported by several scientific studies, providing a solid foundation for its investment appeal:
From an investment perspective, the commercialization of Urolithin A has attracted significant funding:
Amazentis SA is a key player in Urolithin A research, having raised over $9 million through various rounds, ultimately receiving substantial investments from companies like Nestlé and L'Oréal, betting on the potential of Urolithin A in the supplements and skincare markets.
Another company amplifying Urolithin A, Timeline Nutrition, recently raised $66 million, focusing on its longevity and health technology, with products like Mitopure gaining institutional traction.
In contrast, while Rifampicin ($RIF) remains crucial for antibiotic treatment, its prescription market does not offer the same consumer accessibility or speculative appeal. Although the utility of $RIF is important in traditional healthcare, it lacks innovative advantages in the longevity or biohacking space. This comparison underscores why Urolithin A, with its OTC status, could have broader market appeal through $URO and potentially justify a valuation exceeding $1 billion as network effects grow and more scientific and commercial applications emerge.
Overview of $RIF
$RIF is a token supported by Rifampicin, a mainstay of antibacterial therapy for decades, but recent research suggests it may have additional applications for aging by affecting protein aggregation and autophagy.
The DrugAge database has 12 studies indicating that Rifabutin can extend lifespan. Of these 12 studies, 11 are C. elegans, and 1 is flies. A study on C. elegans by Golegaonkar et al. noted, 'We also show that supplementing with Rifampicin in late adulthood is sufficient to extend lifespan.' In mouse models, there is evidence suggesting that Rifabutin may aid in improving biomarkers for diabetes and Alzheimer's disease.
Rifampicin has extended the lifespan of worms in experiments launched on pump.science, possibly fueling a greater price surge for $RIF compared to $URO. Ultimately, the fate of $RIF hinges on 1) its role as a portal drug for DeSci to Solana and 2) the true IP value of Rifampicin. $RIF launched on pump.fun, appearing and feeling like a memecoin, but savvy traders recognize it as the canary in the coal mine for DeSci projects. $RIF is currently the most valuable DeSci project on Solana, representing a blue-chip bet in the DeSci space. That said, given that Rifampicin is already an approved antibiotic for tuberculosis, it is challenging for the team to advance it to human trials.
While conducting human trials using Rifabutin is challenging, animal trials may be a promising route. The animal longevity market is experiencing explosive growth, with companies like Loyal and Animal Biosciences being two market leaders. The animal health market is projected to grow from $60 billion today to $150 billion by 2032. Rifabutin has been approved for several companion animals. However, it is known to cause liver toxicity issues. To mitigate these, the team will pursue both Rifabutin and Rifabutin quinone, the latter reducing antibacterial activity but also lowering liver toxicity issues while preserving its longevity-promoting efficacy. This is not only a feasible business strategy but also incredibly meme-worthy considering the crypto obsession with cats and dogs. This provisional patent will become the cat rif patent (cat Rifampicin patent).
Token utilities
$URO and $RIF's utility is not just speculation. By holding these, token holders can vote on whether to commercialize and decide on licensing terms, directly affecting how data is utilized for marketing and partnerships. $URO and $RIF will also serve as tools to incentivize research participation, fund scientific experiments, and provide exclusive access to research data or products. As the market cap expands, $URO and $RIF can unlock additional utilities, such as governance within scientific decentralized autonomous organizations (DAOs), giving token holders a voice in the direction of research, fostering a self-sustaining ecosystem.
Catalysts
Mouse trials: $URO and $RIF are still continuously testing longevity effects on flies. However, there seems to be relatively little engagement with the experiments themselves. Mouse experiments will be more interesting and paired with prediction markets that users can bet on personal experiments. 'Which mouse survives the longest on the rotarod?' 'Does Rifampicin make mice faster than the control group?'; these are some prediction markets that could draw attention to mouse experiments, thus $URO and $RIF. These prediction markets will collaborate with other teams developing prediction markets, starting with USDC. In the future, they may incorporate local tokens ($RIF and $URO), or fees may be used to buy back and burn tokens like $RIF and $URO.
Large animal trials for $RIF: Rifampicin and/or Rifampicin quinone are strong candidates for animal longevity experiments. Human studies will be a huge burden for RIF, but animal longevity is more feasible, cost-effective, and faster. Given the memetic capabilities of dogs/cats in the crypto space, this may not only have strong market applicability due to commercial viability but could also serve as a powerful catalyst for $RIF.
Human studies: Human research may become a sufficiently large catalyst to attract interest from traditional pharmaceutical and biotechnology crowds, especially if the data from these studies is fully transparent, real-time, open-source, and positive. Studies like this are absolutely unparalleled. For Urolithin A, it's much easier to get started since it is already an approved supplement with clinical trial data proving its efficacy, thus requiring only a well-designed study to confirm positive results.
E-commerce market: Launching an e-commerce store for developed products on pump.science will have explosive implications for growth. This not only helps token holders understand the end game for tokens developed on the platform, but will also bring net new liquidity to the market through product sales. By enabling ordinary people to purchase products from a legitimate e-commerce store, it indirectly brings more liquidity to the pump.science market without needing to achieve that through token buybacks and burns. Historically, the exit liquidity of meme coins has been concentrated among exchange users, which is a fixed game where coins do not create further value. If a portion of product sales (i.e., 15%) is used to buy back and burn tokens like $RIF and $URO, net new liquidity can transition from sales into a market capable of creating net new demand, flowing from product sales into the token market.
Risks
Negative research outcomes: The greatest risk is that neither compound exhibits meaningful anti-aging effects in ongoing studies. Given that both are in early stages, this is a significant risk that token holders must keep in mind. This may not relate to the efficacy of the compounds but rather due to bad luck or poor study design. Given capital constraints, studies on flies and mice may be statistically underpowered, potentially leading to negative research outcomes.
Regulatory scrutiny: While pump.science aims to operate in a compliant manner, tokenizing research compounds is a new concept that may face scrutiny, especially as more value accumulates. Token holders should consider the possibility of unforeseen regulatory actions from drug regulatory or securities authorities.
Narrative fatigue: DeSci is currently a hyped space, but market narratives shift quickly. If token holders' sentiment fades from DeSci as a viable path, both $URO and $RIF may see declines in liquidity and interest. Many token holders are not scientists and do not care about science, but are memecoin speculators. Due to
Abstract
$URO and $RIF represent a new intersection of DeFi and biotechnology, allowing retail token holders to directly support longevity research. If pump.science continues to develop, deriving positive data from research and can test large animals and humans, these tokens may see substantial appreciation. In the short term, tokens will be valued based on platform value, entertainment value of experiments, and narrative. In the long run, value should stabilize around any sales value of Rifabutin or Urolithin A products. However, given the early research stage and regulatory uncertainties surrounding tokenized research funding, risks remain high.
