Peter Attia leaves David Protein amid Epstein document release

On Monday, Canadian American physician Peter Attia announced on X that he has stepped down from his role as Chief Science Officer at David Protein. The announcement follows the release on Friday of more than 1,700 documents related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. According to The New York Times, Attia’s name appeared in the files, which were part of a massive document release. Attia served on the executive team of the New York-based nutrition bar startup and was also an early investor.

In a post on X, Attia, who served as Chief Science Officer, wrote that he was “ashamed” of some of the crude content in his emails with Epstein. However, Attia asserted that he was not involved in criminal activity, never visited Epstein’s island, and never traveled on his plane. He also discussed how he met Epstein and why he remained involved with him after Epstein’s 2008 conviction. Attia is a voice in longevity and preventive health, known for his book, his seven-year-old podcast, and his hiring last month as a contributor to CBS.

The departure comes as David Protein continues to scale. In May of last year, the startup raised a $75 million Series A round—an early-stage venture capital funding round—led by Greenoaks, with participation from Valor Equity Partners. The company has grown since launching its flagship protein bar in September 2024. The product features:

• 28 grams of protein
• Zero sugar
• 150 calories

The fallout appears to extend to Biograph, a healthcare testing and longevity startup co-founded by Attia and entrepreneur John Hering. Biograph, which came out of stealth—publicly launching after operating in secret—a year ago, offers a concierge medical service. This premium, subscription-based healthcare model provides preventive health services to subscribers who pay between $7,500 and $15,000 per year. Biograph appears to be distancing itself from Attia; the company declined to comment on his ongoing participation, and pages on its website that previously mentioned him now omit his name or return an error indicating the file was not found. Biograph’s backers include Vy Capital, Human Capital, Alpha Wave, WndrCo, and angel investors such as Balaji Srinivasan.

Why it matters

The resignation highlights the reputational risks for high-profile longevity figures when past associations with controversial figures like Jeffrey Epstein resurface, potentially impacting their business ventures.