Diseases of Aging: Q&A with Dr. Thomas Ichim
It’s no secret that as people get older, they face more health risks at a higher rate. Dr. Thomas Ichim, president and chief scientific officer at Immorta Bio, spoke with Pharmaceutical Executive about his company’s work focused on age related diseases and the unique challenges this brings.
Pharmaceutical Executive: What made Immorta decide to focus on aging related diseases?
Dr. Thomas Ichim: We recognized that aging is the primary risk factor for numerous diseases, characterized by the gradual decline of organs and tissues, and an increased likelihood of disease onset and progression, including cancer, cardiovascular disease, metabolic disorders, and neurodegeneration. The field of aging science and longevity technologies has advanced significantly, creating vast opportunities for therapeutic innovations. However, current stem cell-based treatments have limitations, such as the lack of personalized "young" cells to replace aged or senescent cells across various organs, and the tendency to target only a single pathway or molecule.
Our proprietary technologies address these gaps by providing patients with their own rejuvenated stem cells and enhanced immune cells, designed to combat cancers and age-related diseases in the same way a young, healthy body would. With this approach, we are focusing on treating aging itself rather than just its resulting diseases, offering a holistic solution aimed at improving health outcomes, increasing longevity, and extending lifespan.
PE: What are the primary diseases Immorta is focusing on?
Ichim: We are focused primarily on addressing diseases of aging, particularly those related to organ failure and cancer. Our most advanced programs target liver failure and non-small cell lung cancer. We chose to prioritize liver failure due to the significant unmet medical need, as current treatments are limited and many patients die waiting for transplants. Preclinical models have demonstrated that our cell therapies show promise in slowing or reversing liver deterioration. We plan to submit IND applications to the FDA for both therapies in the coming months, with the goal of completing Phase I/II clinical trials by 2025.
In parallel, we've prioritized our lung cancer program to meet the urgent need for new treatments, especially given the dismal 5-year survival rate of around 9% for metastatic lung cancer. We have already filed an IND with the FDA and, pending approval, aim to complete the Phase I/IIa trial by Q3 2025.
PE: How are you utilizing your experience in the industry at Immorta?
Ichim: I have been involved in biotechnology from a very young age having my first patent filed at 19 years of age. Over 420 published and issued patents later, I feel like one of my strongest talents is generation of intellectual property.These patents have driven successes of multiple private and public companies, including two NASDAQ listings. I feel my intellectual property knowledge contributes to Immorta, as well as the fact that I have written and received approval for 5 FDA INDs in the area of cellular therapy.
PE: Can you discuss the status of SenoVax?
Ichim: Our SenoVax™ platform is designed to target cancer, initially lung cancer, by training the immune system to eliminate senescent cells, which often shield cancer from immune attacks. Recent animal studies have shown that SenoVax™ not only reduces tumor growth, but also boosts white blood cell production after chemotherapy. This is a major breakthrough, as one of the main challenges of cancer chemotherapy is its damaging effect on bone marrow stem cells, which are crucial for blood cell production.
Additionally, SenoVax™ has demonstrated the ability to enhance both natural and externally provided stem cell activity by clearing senescent cells from the body. This effect has been confirmed in two mouse models of liver failure and is protected under patent application #63/660973, titled "Enhancement of Regenerative Activity by Inactivation of Senescent Cells.
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