By Dr. Asnat Raziel, specialist in obesity treatment, metabolic health and healthy longevity; Director of the Multidisciplinary Center for Obesity Treatment, Assia Medical, Assuta Ramat HaChayal
A peptide against zombie cells: what the company announced
A peptide against zombie cells is the new idea from Immorta Bio, a biotech company in Miami. On October 12, the company announced SenoMune-0257, a tiny synthetic protein identified with the help of artificial intelligence. According to the company, in lab experiments it recruited the immune system to clear aging cells. However, the company has not published the data, and no one has tested the treatment in people yet.
What are “zombie cells”?
“Zombie cells” is a nickname for senescent cells, aging cells that have stopped dividing but have not died. In youth they play a useful role, for example in wound healing and in stopping tumors. Usually the immune system clears them quickly. With age, however, this clearance weakens and the cells build up in tissues.
The problem is that zombie cells are not quiet. They release inflammatory substances that harm neighboring cells. That is why researchers link them to chronic inflammation and to diseases of older age. The US National Institutes of Health (NIH) now treats the study of these cells as a central area of aging science. I wrote about how the body loses its ability to clear them in my article on the cell’s cleanup system.
Current approaches: senolytics
Until now, most research has focused on senolytic drugs, which selectively kill aging cells. The best-known combination is dasatinib with quercetin. Yet the results in people have been modest. For example, a randomized trial in 60 postmenopausal women missed its main goal, a fall in a marker of bone breakdown. Only in a secondary analysis, among women with a high burden of aging cells, did some improvement appear. To date, regulators have not approved any senolytic drug.
A peptide against zombie cells: a vaccine instead of a drug
Immorta Bio takes a different approach. Instead of killing the cells directly, it tries to teach the immune system to recognize them. The idea itself is not new. In 2020, researchers showed in a Nature paper that engineered immune cells (CAR-T) cleared aging cells in mice. As a result, conditions such as liver fibrosis improved.
Immorta Bio also has earlier experience in this field. Its previous product, SenoVax, is a personalized cell therapy that uses the patient’s own immune cells. In 2024 the company filed an application for a trial of this treatment in patients with advanced lung cancer. But a personalized treatment like this is expensive and complex to produce.
A peptide against zombie cells: what we know so far
The new peptide aims to solve the cost problem. It is a short synthetic chain of nine amino acids that manufacturers can produce in large amounts. According to the company, the researchers started with dozens of candidates. They then narrowed them down with computational analysis and tested the best ones in the lab.
According to the announcement, in preclinical experiments the peptide stimulated killer T cells. These cells selectively cleared aging cells and, under the test conditions, spared healthy cells. The company plans to begin a first evaluation in people before the end of the year.
The open questions
At this point, all the information comes from a company press release. First, there is no scientific paper and no numerical data. Second, the release does not say whether the researchers worked with cells in a dish or with animals. Third, the company has not disclosed the peptide’s sequence or target, nor exactly how artificial intelligence helped. Finally, the company has not reported regulatory clearance for a human trial.
The company itself notes that no one has yet shown safety and efficacy in humans. It is also worth remembering that clearing aging cells is not the same as reversing aging. Even if the peptide works, it will take years to learn whether it actually improves health.
What can you do today?
The research is interesting, but it is still far from the clinic. In the meantime, we have proven tools for reducing chronic inflammation. Regular exercise, good sleep and a plant-rich diet help the body stay in balance. In addition, treating obesity and insulin resistance lowers the inflammatory load. You can read more about what longevity medicine offers today and about fitness for longevity.
The bottom line
SenoMune-0257 represents a new direction: recruiting the immune system instead of a drug that kills cells. The idea builds on earlier, promising research, and a synthetic solution could be much cheaper. For now, however, this is a company announcement without published data. It is worth following, but it is too early to expect a treatment.
The information in this article is general only and is not a substitute for personal medical advice. For questions about your own health, please consult your doctor.
Sources
Immorta Bio Pioneers AI-Designed Senolytic Immunotherapy Targeting Diseases of Aging
Is living longer a reality? AI-designed anti-ageing breakthrough could help eliminate ‘zombie cells’
Senolytic CAR T cells reverse senescence-associated pathologies
NIH research establishes new framework for the role of senescence in aging
Information on SenoMune-0257 is based on the developer’s announcement; the company has not published the data, and no peer review has taken place. The Hebrew version of this article is available here.
