Google has set up a new company called Calico that will focus on health and wellness, in particular ageing and associated diseases.

Arthur D Levinson (pictured), a former chairman and CEO of Genentech as well as chairman of Apple, will be Calico’s first CEO as well as a founding investor.

“Illness and aging affect all our families. With some longer term, moonshot thinking around healthcare and biotechnology, I believe we can improve millions of lives,” wrote Larry Page, Google CEO, in a blog.

The announcement gave no further details about what products and services will be offered by Calico.

The search giant has previously tried unsuccessfully to enter the health business. It launched Google Health, which enables patients to store their records online, but closed it in 2011.