A California-based biotechnology company backed by Khosla Ventures has reported preliminary Phase 1 results for its experimental drug RLS-1496, a topical treatment designed to eliminate senescent cells in patients with psoriasis, atopic dermatitis and age-damaged skin.1 The underlying idea, that removing a class of dysfunctional cells might alter the trajectory of disease, is beginning to be tested, not in theory, but in patients.
The study, conducted in the Netherlands for Rubedo Life Sciences, was small and primarily intended to assess safety. But it was notable for a different reason. The drug is among the first to enter human testing with…
