Senescent Cell Removal Unleashes Natural Killer Cells Shown to Fight Cancer and Viruses in Animal Models

Immorta Bio SenoVax™ Senolytic Cancer Immunotherapy Boosts Multiple Arms of the Immune System

MIAMI, April 22, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Immorta Bio Inc, a scientific longevity company dedicated to "Treating Diseases of Aging and Treating Aging as Disease" announced today results of laboratory experiments, covered in newly filed patent # 63/789,097 entitled "Augmentation of Natural Killer Cell Number and Activity by Senolytic Therapies", showing that reducing the number of aged cells known as "senescent cells" result in a potent increase in numbers and activity of natural killer (NK) cells. 

Immorta Bio has previously demonstrated that its SenoVax™ immunotherapy product  reduced senescent cells¹, increase efficacy of checkpoint inhibitors and chemotherapy², as well as stimulate regenerative activity of endogenous stem cells in rats³. SenoVax is currently under development as a therapy for lung cancer.

NK cells are believed to play a fundamental role in the ability of the body to fight cancer and viruses.  Studies have shown that higher numbers of NK cells infiltrating tumors results in longer survival in breast⁴, lung⁵, brain⁶, and pancreatic⁷ cancers.  Additionally, patients with higher activity of NK cells have superior ability to overcome viral infections⁸.

"It is widely known that as people age there is a progressive increase in the incidence of cancers and susceptibility to viral infections.  Our preliminary data suggests that reducing senescent cell burden, either with conventional senolytics such as dasatinib+quercetin combinations, or using our proprietary SenoVax™ senolytic immunotherapy⁹ significantly enhances numbers and activity of NK cells, which may reduce the probability of cancer and viral infections." Said Thomas Ichim, Ph.D, President and Chief Scientific Officer of Immorta Bio.

The experiments in animal models demonstrated not only enhancement of NK cells but also that these cells can be transferred to naïve animals resulting in tumor eradication.   The filed patent application covers these newly discovered biological mechanisms, including the SenoVax "teaching" NK cells to kill cancers, an activity that can be transferred from one animal to another.

"SenoVax therapy is a natural way of amplifying the existing powers of the body to fight cancer." Said Dr. Boris Reznik, CEO and Chairman of Immorta Bio. "In contrast to other therapies, our approach is to remove the "senescent shield" that the cancer is using to protect itself. This allows for use of SenoVax as a monotherapy, but also as an adjuvant to numerous therapies already on the market to which only a minority of patients currently respond."

About Immorta Bio Immorta Bio Inc., a scientific longevity company focused on "Treating Diseases of Aging and Treating Aging as Disease™," leverages anti-aging technologies to tackle pressing medical challenges, from advanced cancers to other age-related conditions. To learn more about Immorta Bio's research initiatives, visit immortabio.com, LinkedIn and X.

Company Contact
Dr. Boris Reznik
Immorta Bio
https://www.immortabio.com 
+1 305-632-2939 
@immortabio

1 https://firstwordpharma.com/story/5940046
2 https://www.immortabio.com/news/senovax-tm-breakthrough-cancer-immunotherapy-preserves-immune-function-post-chemotherapy-in-animal-models
3 https://www.immortabio.com/news/senovax-tm-breakthrough-cancer-immunotherapy-preserves-immune-function-post-chemotherapy-in-animal-models
⁴ Muntasell, A., et al. "NK cell infiltrates and HLA Class I expression in primary HER2(+) breast cancer predict and uncouple pathological response and disease-free survival." Clinical Cancer Research, 25(5), 1535–1545
⁵ Tuminello, S., et al.  "Prognostic value of immune cells in the tumor microenvironment of early-stage lung cancer: a meta-analysis." Oncotarget, 11(14), 1262–1273.
⁶ Pellegatta, S., et al. (2019). "ABCC3 expressed by CD56dim CD16+ NK cells predicts response in glioblastoma patients treated with combined chemotherapy and dendritic cell immunotherapy." International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 20(23), 5886.
⁷ Go et al. Tissue-resident natural killer cells support survival in pancreatic cancer through promotion of cDC1-CD8 T activity. Elife. 2024 Dec 10:13:RP92672
⁸ Orange. Human natural killer cell deficiencies and susceptibility to infection. Microbes Infect. 2002 Dec;4(15):1545-58.
⁹ Veklych et al. Can senolysis be used to overcome tumor immune evasion? J Stem Cell Res Ther. 2024;9(1):26‒32.

SOURCE Immorta Bio Inc.