SAN FRANCISCO -- Rubedo Life Sciences, Inc. (Rubedo), an AI-driven, clinical-stage biotech focused on discovering and rapidly developing selective cellular rejuvenation medicines targeting aging cells, announced that the first patient has been dosed with lead drug candidate RLS-1496 in the company’s single-center, ascending-dose, randomized, double-blind, vehicle-controlled trial. The study marks the first time a GPX4 (glutathione peroxidase) modulator has entered Phase 1 clinical trial and is designed to assess the safety, tolerability, clinical effects, plasma bioavailability, and pharmacodynamics of topical RLS-1496 in male or female patients 18 years or older with mild to moderate and stable plaque psoriasis. These subjects’ aging skin will also be treated and assessed to see if RLS-1496 can improve biomarkers of aging and reverse the skin age or biological clock. Based on the results of this study, the trial will potentially expand to additional inflammatory skin conditions and autoimmune disorders, including but not limited to atopic dermatitis, vitiligo, rosacea, alopecia areata, and scleroderma.[3] A systemic formulation of RLS-1496 is planned to enter Phase 1 clinical trials in 2026.

“We are excited to reach this important milestone not only for our lead candidate RLS-1496 but also for the advancement of longevity science,” said Rubedo CEO Frederick Beddingfield, III, MD, PhD, FAAD, FACMS. “As the first company to treat patients with a GPX4 modulator targeting senescent cells in a data-rich Phase 1 clinical trial, we look forward to assessing its potential disease-altering effects on inflammatory skin conditions and skin aging, driving our pipeline forward in line with our goal of making a meaningful impact on age-related diseases and conditions, such as obesity and pain.”

Rubedo Chief Scientific Officer Marco Quarta, PhD, said, “For the last decade, longevity scientists have been working to develop a compound ready for human trials that safely and effectively targets pathologic senescent cells. We are proud that our team developed RLS-1496 into a topical drug candidate in less than three years from initiation - two times faster than the industry average[1] via ALEMBIC™, our proprietary AI-driven drug discovery platform with SenTeCh™ chemistry technology. The other candidates in our pipeline are following similar expedited timelines, including systemic RLS-1496, which is aimed to begin Phase 1 clinical trials in 2026.”