Key points from article :
UNITY announces Phase 1 study of a new senolytic called UBX1325 for patients with diabetic macular oedema.
Diabetic macular edema is due to leaky blood vessels in the eye, causing fluid to accumulate in the macula.
Researchers believe that senescent cells use the BCL-xL pathway and evade apoptosis to persist as we age.
Senescent cells secrete factors that damage the eye causing vascular leakage.
The new senolytic removes these senescent cells by inhibiting the BCL-xL pathway.
“Strong evidence of association between disease progression in DME and accumulation of senescent cells" - Anirvan Ghosh, CEO of UNITY.
The trial is designed to enroll approximately 15 patients, with safety and tolerability data expected in the first half of 2021.
Given that previous clinical trial of another senolytic failed, Unity hopes to see promising results with this one.
