A Promise Kept — Phase 1 Data for a 7-KC-Clearing Drug (Oki O'Connor, Cyclarity Tx)
In this episode, Dr. Matthew Oki O'Connor of Cyclarity Therapeutics discusses the Phase 1 trial of UDP003, the first human‑tested drug designed to bind and clear 7‑ketocholesterol (7‑KC), a toxic oxidized cholesterol that accumulates in arterial plaque. He explains how 7‑KC drives foam‑cell formation and atherosclerosis, and how engineered beta‑cyclodextrin molecules act as molecular “sponges” to selectively capture and remove 7‑KC without affecting normal cholesterol. The trial showed that UDP003 safely reduced circulating 7‑KC levels, providing the first proof‑of‑concept that a disease‑modifying, plaque‑reversing therapy is feasible. O'Connor emphasizes the potential of this platform to move cardiovascular treatment beyond lipid‑lowering toward actual damage reversal.
Beyond Senolytics: Senoadaptive Drugs & Clinical Data on GPX4 Modulation (Dr. Marco Quarta, Rubedo)
In this episode, Dr. Marco Quarta, co‑founder and CSO of Rubedo Life Sciences, discusses the company’s breakthrough first‑in‑class GPX4‑modulating drug RLS1496, which has just reported preliminary Phase 1 basket‑trial data across multiple skin indications. He explains how Rubedo’s AI‑enabled single‑cell multi‑omics...