Longevity Company Rubedo Announces Phase 1 Trials for GPX4 Modulator Targeting Aging Cells and Surrounding Tissues

Rubedo Life Sciences has unveiled its clinical development plans for RLS-1496, a first-in-class GPX4 modulator, during the 12th Annual Dermatology Summit, held in conjunction with the J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference 2025. RLS-1496 targets aging cells and surrounding tissues, addressing the biological drivers of chronic age-related conditions.

The Phase 1 clinical trial for the candidate is set to begin in the Netherlands in Spring 2025.

CEO Frederick Beddingfield, III, MD, PhD, presented on longevity science and the projected $600 billion global market for treatments targeting aging. He also participated in related discussions at Biotech Showcase and the J.P. Morgan side event, "Italy on the Move." Rubedo’s Chief Scientific Officer, Marco Quarta, PhD, provided further insights into RLS-1496 and announced the launch of the company’s Series B financing round.

Rubedo’s proprietary AI-driven ALEMBIC drug discovery platform identifies specific druggable targets using technologies such as single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNAseq) and spatial multi-omics. These approaches enable Rubedo to pinpoint pathologic senescent cells that accumulate in aging tissues and contribute to diseases like fibrosis, cancer, and neurodegeneration. By selectively targeting these cells while preserving healthy ones, the ALEMBIC platform is designed to reverse tissue degeneration and rejuvenate biological functions. SenTech, Rubedo’s medicinal chemistry process, complements ALEMBIC by engineering small molecules with high specificity and safety, minimizing unintended side effects.

Rubedo presently collaborates with institutions such as Beiersdorf (targeting cellular senescence in skin), Cedars-Sinai (lung fibrosis), Buck Institute for Research on Aging (cellular senescence discovery), Stanford Medicine (muscle aging and frailty), and Eindhoven University of Technology (AI in drug discovery).

Dr. Beddingfield highlighted the increasing global population over age 60, expected to double to 2 billion by 2050 (WHO, 2023), emphasizing the urgent need for therapies targeting the root causes of age-related diseases to enhance healthspan and quality of life.

Topics: Clinical Trials