Immorta Bio says its AI-engineered SenoMune-0257 induces T cells to eliminate senescent cells and plans a first human evaluation before the end of the year.
The molecule at the center of Immorta Bio’s latest ad contains only nine amino acids, which is tiny by pharmaceutical standards. On October 12, the Miami company announced that it had completed planned preclinical studies for SenoMune-0257, a synthetic peptide designed to help the immune system recognize and eliminate senescent cells. Immorta claims that artificial intelligence helped identify it (1).
Senescent cells, often called “zombie cells,” have stopped dividing but have not died. They persist and, depending on their release, contribute to chronic inflammation, tissue deterioration and the progression of many diseases. Their elimination has produced benefits in experimental models of cardiovascular disease, liver and kidney dysfunction, lung disease, fibrosis, neurodegeneration and cancer, the company claims. He adds that landmark studies have also shown improved physical function and extended lifespan in mice.
Drugs that directly kill senescent cells, called senolytics, have limitations. Immorta highlights potential off-target toxicity and inability to generate lasting immunological memory. His approach involves restoring the immune system’s ability to recognize and eliminate these cells.
From cell therapy to peptides
Previous work called SenoVax, which Immorta said showed tumor suppression and substantial survival extension in experimental models of cancer and accelerated aging, laid the groundwork. SenoMune-0257 builds on this. The company describes the new candidate as a potentially universal commercially available pharmaceutical product, a simplification of what was previously a complex cellular immunotherapy.
Dr. Thomas Ichim, President and Scientific Director, described how it was discovered. “Leveraging artificial intelligence, we identified dozens of potential candidate peptides and gradually narrowed them down to SenoMune-0257 through computational analysis and laboratory experiments,” he said.
In laboratory studies, the peptide stimulated cytotoxic T cells (immune cells that kill targets) capable of selectively eliminating senescent cells while sparing healthy cells, “under the conditions tested,” in the company’s words. The candidate is designed to deliver durable immunological memory and reduced off-target toxicity, with simpler production and significantly lower manufacturing costs than personalized cellular immunotherapies.
“We believe that senolytic immunotherapy represents a fundamental advance in how aging-related diseases can be treated,” said Dr. Boris Reznik, President and CEO.
The schedule is tight. Immorta says it is preparing for clinical entry in 2026, with a first human evaluation planned before the end of the year, and the publication is dated October 12. It does not specify whether a regulatory application has been filed, where a trial would take place or how many people would participate. These would be good questions for the company.
Immorta lists experience in print, including peer-reviewed publications in oncology and longevity and collaborations with the Buck Institute, Cedars-Sinai, UC San Diego and the University of Miami.
Dr. Gilberto Lopes, strategic advisor to the company and head of the Division of Medical Oncology at the University of Miami, said: “Many serious diseases share underlying biological processes, including chronic inflammation and cellular senescence. »
Where longevity researchers come in
If senescent cells are truly a common driver of age-related diseases, their elimination is one of the most discussed ideas in the field. The sticking point has been how to proceed. Pills that kill zombie cells may hit the wrong targets, and cell therapies can work but tend to be expensive and personalized.
A short peptide that drives the body’s own T cells would fall somewhere in between. This would be simpler to achieve, assuming it behaves in humans the same way it does in the lab. Immorta also says its AI approach has produced a discovery engine capable of generating more peptide immunotherapies aimed at other mechanisms linked to senescence and disease, which would expand the story if the first candidate holds up.
Human data will tell. The first participants receiving SenoMune-0257, if it happens by the end of the year as the company plans, will give the field its first real taste.
Wondering who else recruits the immune system to eliminate senescent cells? Ask the DLT to “show me biotechs developing senolytic vaccines and immunotherapies” or “compare immune-based and small molecule approaches to eliminate senescent cells” – explore the platform HERE.
Image courtesy of Immorta Bio
(1) https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/immorta-bio-pioneers-ai-designed-senolytic-immunotherapy-targeting-diseases-of-aging-302905700.html
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