Immunomodulator demonstrates immune-mediated clearance of senescent cells with potential in conditions linked to aging and inflammation.
Canadian biopharma company Qu Biologics today revealed that one of its immunotherapies significantly reduces a key marker of cellular senescence in the livers of mice with fatty liver disease. The company says the results were seen during recent research involving its QBECO immunomodulator, suggesting it may have potential implications for conditions linked to aging, inflammation and metabolic dysfunction.
Cellular senescence, the so-called “zombie” state in which cells cease to divide but remain metabolically active, contributes to chronic inflammation and the progression of diseases such as obesity, cancer, fibrosis, diabetes and neurodegenerative disorders. The accumulation of senescent cells disrupts normal tissue function, promoting the development of chronic conditions associated with aging.
Qu Biologics is developing a range of therapeutics called site specific immunomodulators (SSIs), which are designed to restore innate immune function and address a range of chronic diseases. In collaboration with McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario, the company’s research revealed that mice treated with QBECO experienced a marked reduction in senescence-associated beta-galactosidase, a widely recognized biomarker of senescence.
The reduction in senescence was correlated with decreased fat infiltration, inflammation and fibrosis in the liver, indicating that clearance of senescent cells may play a role in reversing fatty liver disease. The findings align with a growing body of evidence highlighting the importance of immune-mediated clearance of senescent cells in maintaining health and preventing disease progression.
“Given QBECO SSI’s novel immunological mechanism and the growing interest in the role of senescence in the progression of aging and chronic disease, these data suggest that clearing senescence may be an additional health restorative mechanism of Qu’s immunomodulators,” said Dr Hal Gunn, CEO of Qu Biologics.
The study was conducted in collaboration with Dr Jonathan Schertzer, a professor in the Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences at McMaster and an expert in the fields of metabolic health and inflammation.
“It is exciting to investigate new mechanisms to understand and potentially treat fatty liver disease,” said Schertzer. “Senescence has been implicated in aging, chronic inflammation, fibrosis, and many chronic diseases. This is early exploratory data, but it has potential implications beyond fatty liver disease.”
Qu Biologics’ immunomodulators operate by restoring the normal function of the innate immune system, which plays a crucial role in regulating inflammation, metabolism, microbiome balance and immune surveillance. Dysregulation of the innate immune system is a fundamental driver of chronic inflammatory diseases and metabolic disorders, leading to persistent inflammation and immune dysfunction. Unlike conventional immunotherapies that either suppress or overstimulate immune pathways, Qu Biologics says its SSIs are designed to rebalance and restore innate immune function, allowing the body to naturally clear disease-causing cells and maintain homeostasis.
The company’s research extends beyond metabolic disease to explore the broader implications of SSIs in age-related immune decline. As individuals age, their innate immune function deteriorates, increasing susceptibility to infections, chronic inflammatory diseases and cancer. Qu Biologics is currently conducting a Phase 2 randomized placebo-controlled trial to evaluate the effects of another of its SSI immunomodulators in individuals aged 65 and older. This study aims to determine whether the therapy can enhance immune function, reduce infection risk, and improve overall health and quality of life in an aging population.
“What is exciting to me is the many ways in which Qu’s immunomodulators’ unique mechanism clears important underlying causes of disease to, not simply treat disease, but to restore health,” said Dr Shirin Kalyan, Qu Biologics’ VP of Scientific Innovation. “Qu’s SSIs provide a very different way of thinking of the treatment of disease, by focusing on health and health restoration.”
