In a recent article in Gynäkologische Praxis (Springer), Cluster members Ingo Lämmermann and Johannes Grillari take a close look at senolytics and senotherapeutic strategies as potential disease-modifying approaches for age-associated conditions. The article outlines why targeting senescent cells is biologically compelling, summarizes encouraging preclinical and early clinical signals, and just as importantly, discusses the current limitations: heterogeneous senescent cell populations, missing biomarkers, safety considerations, and regulatory hurdles.
The article reflects ongoing work at Associate Cluster Member Rockfish Bio, a spin-off of BOKU Vienna, where next-generation, more selective senolytics and biomarker strategies are being developed. It is important to Rockfish Bio to put a strong emphasis on evidence-based communication in a field that currently attracts a lot of hype.
A key message is balance. Senolytics hold real promise to address fundamental mechanisms of aging rather than symptoms alone, but they are not ready for routine clinical use. Robust trials, validated biomarkers, and clear regulatory pathways are still needed, and realistic timelines point to several more years before first approvals may be possible.
A thoughtful read for anyone navigating the space between longevity enthusiasm and clinical reality: Senolytics: A New Wonder-drug Against Age-associated Diseases?