Senolytic

A drug that selectively kills senescent cells: damaged cells that have permanently stopped dividing but resist dying.

• Senescence is an anti-cancer brake: stressed or damaged cells stop dividing rather than risk becoming malignant.
• With age these cells accumulate and secrete a cocktail of inflammatory signals that damages neighbouring tissue.
• Senolytics exploit the survival pathways these cells depend on; clearing them in mice delayed several age-related diseases.
• Human trials so far show modest or mixed results, and senescent cells also help wound healing, so removing them has costs.