SenoVax: Targeting "Zombie Cells" to Destroy Tumor Barriers and Combat Lung Cancer

A new Investigational New Drug application has been submitted to the FDA for SenoVax, targeting the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer. SenoVax, utilizes dendritic cell technology to enhance the immune system's response against senescent cells surrounding tumors, potentially offering a significant breakthrough in cancer treatment.

Immorta Bio has announced that its Investigational New Drug (IND) application has been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The company is set to begin clinical trials on SenoVax™, a first-of-its-kind senolytic immunotherapy, aimed at patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer who have exhausted conventional treatments.

"This is the first clinical candidate to push the immune system to attack not the cancer itself, but the cells protecting it," said Thomas Ichim, PhD, President and Chief Scientific Officer of Immorta Bio. "In contrast to cancer, which mutates in a very rapid manner, senescent cells surrounding the tumor do not mutate, thus making them a more attractive therapeutic target. While the primary aim of the study is not to investigate systemic effects, it will be of significant interest to observe any additional regenerative benefits of the SenoVax therapy, beyond its impact on tumor size reduction."

The clinical trial is designed to explore the safety, immunogenicity, and initial efficacy of SenoVax™, dividing participants into three cohorts each receiving escalating doses of the treatment. SenoVax™ utilizes advanced dendritic cell technology to enhance the body's natural immune response against senescent cells, often referred to as "zombie cells." These cells are implicated in both the acceleration of aging and in providing a shield around tumors, thus evading immune detection.

Previous research conducted by Immorta Bio has indicated that SenoVax™ could significantly inhibit lung cancer growth in animal models and trigger immune responses that specifically target and destroy these senescent cells.

Research has suggested that reducing senescent cell populations can mitigate aging symptoms, enhance mental and physical functions, and even boost the effectiveness of other cancer treatments such as chemotherapy and immunotherapy.

Boris Reznik, PhD, Chairman and CEO of Immorta Bio, expressed gratitude towards the collaborative effort that brought this innovative treatment from the lab to clinical trials. "Our Senolytic Immunotherapy has the potential to be valuable not only as a monotherapy, but also as an adjuvant to numerous oncological treatments that are currently in the clinic," Reznik stated.

SenoVax™ is derived from the patient’s own cells, starting with a skin biopsy from which senescent cells are cultivated. These lab-grown cells then serve as a source of antigens to activate dendritic cells prepared from the patient. This personalized approach combines the precision of dendritic cell immunotherapy with a new target—senescent cells associated with tumors.