Hustler Words – The high-stakes world of health technology and venture-backed startups is reeling from a significant development: Dr. Peter Attia, a prominent figure in the longevity and preventive health space, has abruptly departed from his role as Chief Science Officer at David Protein. The announcement, made via X by the founder of the popular high-protein nutrition bar company, follows the recent unsealing of thousands of documents related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, in which Attia’s name featured prominently.
Attia, a Canadian American physician widely recognized for his bestselling book "Outlive: The Science and Art of Longevity" and his influential podcast, was not only a key executive at David Protein but also an early investor. His departure casts a shadow over the three-year-old, New York-based startup, which had seen remarkable growth since launching its flagship protein bar in September 2024. David Protein, known for its bars boasting 28 grams of protein, zero sugar, and 150 calories, successfully secured a substantial $75 million Series A funding round last May, led by Greenoaks with participation from Valor Equity Partners.
The controversy stems from Attia’s name appearing in over 1,700 documents, including email correspondence, released last Friday as part of an extensive file dump connected to Epstein. In a lengthy post on X, Attia publicly addressed the revelations, expressing profound shame regarding the explicit nature of certain communications with Epstein. However, he vehemently denied any involvement in criminal activity, stating unequivocally that he never visited Epstein’s infamous island or traveled on his private plane. Attia also provided a detailed account of his initial acquaintance with Epstein and his reasons for maintaining contact even after Epstein’s 2008 conviction.
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The ripple effects of this reputational fallout extend beyond David Protein. Biograph, the healthcare testing and longevity startup co-founded by Attia alongside entrepreneur John Hering, appears to be actively distancing itself from the physician. The company has notably declined to comment on Attia’s continued participation, and sections of its digital presence that previously acknowledged his involvement now either omit his name entirely or redirect to non-existent pages, returning a "file not found" error.
Biograph, which emerged from its clandestine development phase approximately a year prior, as previously reported by Hustler Words, has attracted significant backing from investors including Vy Capital, Human Capital, Alpha Wave, and WndrCo, alongside angel investors like Balaji Srinivasan. The startup operates in the burgeoning concierge medical service sector, offering premium preventive health services to subscribers at an annual cost ranging from $7,500 to $15,000. Attia was previously listed as a co-founder in the company’s press releases and on its website, a detail now conspicuously absent. The unfolding situation highlights the precarious balance between personal conduct and professional reputation in the high-stakes world of innovative health technology.
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