Immorta Bio Advances Senolytic Immunotherapy SenoVax Toward Phase I/IIa Trial in Advanced NSCLC
Key Insights
Immorta Bio (search) is collaborating with the FDA to advance SenoVax™, a first-in-class senolytic immunotherapy, into Phase I/IIa clinical trials for advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).
The company has appointed lung cancer pioneer Dr. Gilberto Lopes, principal investigator of the KEYNOTE-042 trial that led to pembrolizumab's FDA approval, to its Strategic Advisory Board.
SenoVax™ demonstrated anti-tumor activity across multiple solid tumor models in preclinical studies and showed synergy with checkpoint inhibitors by targeting senescent cells in tumors.
Immorta Bio (search) Inc., a biotechnology company focused on longevity science, is working with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to advance its lead program SenoVax™ into Phase I/IIa clinical trials for advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The first-in-class senolytic immunotherapy represents a novel approach to cancer treatment by targeting senescent cells that accumulate in tumors and their microenvironment.
Strategic Leadership Addition
The company has strengthened its clinical development capabilities by appointing Gilberto de Lima Lopes Jr., MD, MBA, FAMS, to its Strategic Advisory Board. Dr. Lopes is globally recognized for his leadership in lung cancer and immuno-oncology, having served as principal investigator of KEYNOTE-042, the pivotal trial that supported the 2019 FDA first-line approval of pembrolizumab (Keytruda®) in PD-L1 (search)–positive advanced NSCLC.
"We are honored to welcome a medical pioneer who helped bring game-changing immunotherapy to lung cancer," said Boris N. Reznik, PhD, Chairman and CEO of Immorta Bio (search). "With Dr. Lopes' guidance, we aim to deliver the next leap—senolytic immunotherapy—to patients who need new options."
The KEYNOTE-042 trial results have broadened access to checkpoint inhibition for hundreds of thousands of patients worldwide since the approval of pembrolizumab.
Novel Mechanism of Action
SenoVax™ is designed to train the immune system to selectively eliminate senescent cells—aged, dysfunctional cells that are associated with immune evasion and resistance to therapy. In preclinical studies, the therapy has demonstrated anti-tumor activity across multiple solid tumor models, including lung, breast, glioma, and pancreatic cancers.
"Our SenoVax™ program shows that removing senescent cells can de-shield tumors and enable immune-mediated destruction," said Thomas E. Ichim, PhD, President and Chief Scientific Officer of Immorta Bio (search). "Beyond oncology, targeting senescence has the potential to restore youthful immune and regenerative function, a cornerstone of our longevity vision."
The preclinical data also showed synergy with checkpoint inhibitors, suggesting potential combination therapy approaches for future clinical development.
Executive Team Expansion
The company has also recently appointed Dr. Armin Rath as Chief Business Officer, bringing over 20 years of leadership experience in the global biopharmaceutical industry. Dr. Rath most recently held a key leadership role at Cytovia Inc (search)., where he advanced next-generation immunotherapies. His expertise spans founding and scaling biotech ventures, launching international operations, and managing cross-functional teams across the U.S., Europe, Japan, and China.
As Chief Business Officer, Dr. Rath will oversee business development, strategic partnerships, and commercialization efforts, supporting the advancement of both SenoVax™ and the company's StemCellRevivify™ platform, a proprietary personalized progenitor cell platform aimed at rejuvenating damaged organs and treating age-related diseases.
Clinical Development Timeline
With the addition of key leadership personnel, Immorta Bio (search) is positioning itself for first-in-human clinical trials as it expands its presence in the regenerative medicine and longevity biotechnology space. The company's collaboration with the FDA represents a critical step toward bringing senolytic immunotherapy to patients with advanced NSCLC who have limited treatment options.