In the past decade, the quest to prolong human life and lessen suffering in the twilight years has gained a new protagonist: senolytics. These drugs have the potential to eradicate the damaged cells that pile up in our bodies as we age, halting the diseases associated with that process, from Alzheimer’s to cancer. Until recently, though, they weren’t precise enough — sure to attack problem cells, but likely to batter good ones, too.
Now the second generation of senolytics has arrived. Last month, a team of researchers from the universities of Leicester and Cambridge announced they had designed antibodies capable of locking onto specific proteins on the surface of the target cells, leaving little chance of friendly fire and its adverse side effects. Each antibody is essentially a protein-seeking missile, loaded with toxins; it homes in, “and once inside, it kind of explodes,” says Salvador Macip, the team’s lead researcher. ...
