Unity Biotechnology announces new research on potential of Senolytics

UNITY Biotechnology announced new research published in the peer-reviewed journal Nature Medicine that supports the clearance of senescent cells in the retina as a therapeutic approach that can lead to long-term improvements in vision in patients with diabetic macular edema, DME. The study shows that the therapeutic clearance of senescent cells can potentially remove an underlying source of pathogenesis and thus allow healthy cells to regenerate and remodel retinal vasculature, ultimately leading to long-term disease modification. These senescent cells can modify the surrounding environment and contribute to different cellular dysfunction and tissue degeneration. A team of scientists at University of Montreal and UNITY Biotechnology revealed that cellular senescent pathways are triggered in the diabetic retina and are specifically activated in endothelial cells. Researchers showed that senolysis through BCL-xL inhibition improved retinal barrier function in diabetic mice, modifying the retinal microenvironment and reestablishing tissue homeostasis. In addition, in clinical trials BCL-xL inhibition led to improvements in visual acuity and retinal structure stabilization in patients with advanced disease. “This research provides compelling mechanistic evidence of the therapeutic approach of eliminating senescent cells to reduce diabetes-induced retinal vascular leakage and preserve retinal function,” Anirvan Ghosh, Ph.D., chief executive officer of UNITY and an author of the paper. “As senescent cell burden is observed in many other diseases, this study highlights the potential benefit of senolytic drugs for various age-related and metabolic diseases.”