Phoenix SENOLYTIX and Eos SENOLYTIX, both subsidiaries of SENOTHERAPEUTIX, Inc, are developing contrasting senotherapeutic platforms—gene therapy with ApoptiCIDe and mitochondria-targeting peptides with MitoXcel—highlighting the diverse strategies in targeting senescent cells.

Both companies aim to begin first-in-human trials in 2026, but they face significant challenges related to safety, delivery, long-term tolerability, and translating promising mouse data into human benefits.

Dr. Kevin Slawin, CEO of both companies and former founder of Bellicum Pharmaceuticals, emphasizes the transformative potential of senotherapeutics to extend healthspan and reduce healthcare burdens, positioning their work as pioneering in aging-specific medicine.

The upcoming second Senotherapeutics Summit in Rome will showcase innovative approaches to targeting senescent cells, reflecting the field’s transition from experimental models to clinical-stage therapies for age-related diseases.

Eos’s MitoXcel approach employs geropeptides that enhance mitochondrial function and induce apoptosis in senescent cells, with promising results in aged mice showing improvements in body composition, exercise endurance, and cognitive performance.

The summit will emphasize the importance of diverse therapeutic strategies, with Phoenix focusing on precision gene therapy and Eos on broad health improvements, illustrating the field’s multifaceted innovation.

Phoenix’s ApoptiCIDe platform uses a p16Ink4a-specific promoter and suicide switch to selectively eliminate senescent cells, achieving 60-70% removal in aged mice and building on prior models that demonstrated lifespan extension.