In the quest to extend human healthspan, one concept has emerged as both a culprit and a potential therapeutic target: cellular senescence. These are cells that, although still alive, have stopped dividing and begun secreting inflammatory and tissue-degrading signals. Scientists have come to see them not just as bystanders in aging—but as active drivers of decline.
One of the key figures exploring this space is Dr. Marco Quarta, co-founder and CEO of Rubedo Life Sciences, a company developing precision senolytics—drugs designed to selectively clear senescent cells. A former Stanford University scientist with deep roots in stem cell research, Quarta now sits at the center of one of longevity biotech’s most promising frontiers.
In a recent interview with Lifespan.io, Quarta shared insights into the biology of senescence, why targeting it matters, and how Rubedo is working to turn this knowledge into therapies that could delay aging and reduce the burden of chronic disease.
Understanding Senescence: When Cells Stop Playing Nice
Every time a cell divides, it incurs a bit of damage—much like a copy of a copy that gets slightly less sharp each time. Eventually, many cells enter a state known as senescence: they no longer divide, but they don’t die either. Instead, they persist, releasing a cocktail of signals known as the senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP).
This SASP can cause inflammation, tissue dysfunction, and even promote cancerous changes in neighboring cells. Over time, these senescent cells accumulate in tissues throughout the body, contributing to aging and many age-related diseases, including:
- Osteoarthritis
- Pulmonary fibrosis
- Cardiovascular disease
- Neurodegeneration
- Certain cancers
Senescence is a natural biological process—it helps protect against tumors and plays a role in wound healing. But when not cleared properly, these cells overstay their welcome and become a chronic burden on the body.
The Origin Story: From Stanford Lab to Biotech Startup
Marco Quarta began his deep dive into cellular senescence while studying stem cell aging at Stanford University. It became clear that even regenerative therapies like stem cell treatments were being undermined by the toxic environment created by senescent cells.
“It’s like planting healthy seeds in poisoned soil,” Quarta explained. “Unless you remove the senescent cells, it’s difficult to truly rejuvenate tissues.”
This realization led Quarta to co-found Rubedo Life Sciences in 2018. Rubedo’s mission is to develop precision senolytics—compounds that can clear senescent cells from the body while leaving healthy cells untouched.
Why Precision Matters: The Risk of Collateral Damage
Many early senolytic candidates were blunt instruments. While they showed promise in animal models, they lacked the specificity needed for safe human use.
Rubedo’s approach aims to change that by using cell-surface biomarkers and sophisticated screening platforms to find drug candidates that target only the problematic cells. Their platform is based on a proprietary library of molecules that can differentiate between cell types, even among closely related ones.
“Our goal is to identify and target senescent cells based on their unique surface proteins,” Quarta said. “This allows us to be both effective and safe.”
This precision is crucial, particularly in aging populations, where off-target effects can lead to unintended consequences in already vulnerable systems.
The Bigger Picture: Senescence Beyond Aging
While most of the focus on senescence centers around aging, it also plays a role in:
- Cancer resistance: Senescent cells can create a microenvironment that protects tumors.
- Fibrotic disease: In organs like the lungs or liver, senescent cells contribute to excessive scarring and tissue rigidity.
- Metabolic dysfunction: Chronic inflammation from senescent cells can impair insulin signaling and promote diabetes.
By targeting these root causes, senolytic therapies could be applied across a range of conditions, making them potentially one of the most impactful classes of drugs in development today.
From Mice to Humans: Where Are We Now?
In mouse models, the results have been nothing short of stunning. Mice treated with senolytics show:
- Increased lifespan
- Improved muscle function
- Reduced inflammation
- Reversal of certain degenerative changes
These findings have led to a rush of clinical activity. Several companies—including Rubedo—are advancing human senolytic trials, though most are still in the early phases.
Rubedo’s lead compounds are being tested for multiple indications, including:
- Pulmonary fibrosis
- Dermatological aging
- Oncology support (clearing senescent cells induced by chemotherapy)
Importantly, Quarta emphasizes the need for biomarkers—tools to track senescent cell burden in humans, which will help identify which patients are likely to benefit from treatment.
The Skin as a Window to the Body
One interesting area Rubedo is exploring is the skin—a highly accessible organ that shows clear signs of aging and serves as a visible barometer of internal health.
“The skin is not just cosmetic,” said Quarta. “It reflects the biological age of the individual, and it’s an ideal platform to test our compounds in a minimally invasive way.”
Initial applications in dermatology may help build trust, refine dosing, and generate safety data before expanding into more systemic uses.
Senescence and Regeneration: A Double-Edged Sword
Senescent cells aren’t entirely bad. In the short term, they help:
- Suppress tumors by halting cell division
- Facilitate wound healing by remodeling tissues
- Promote embryonic development, oddly enough, during very early life
The challenge is context and clearance. In youth, the immune system typically eliminates senescent cells after their job is done. But as we age, clearance slows down, and senescent cells begin to accumulate like rust in a machine.
This is why Rubedo’s goal isn’t to eliminate all senescent cells, but to restore balance—clearing the chronic, pathological ones while respecting their beneficial functions.
Personalized Aging Medicine: The Future Is Targeted
Quarta believes that longevity science is moving toward a personalized model, where therapies are tailored to an individual’s biological age, disease risk, and cellular environment.
Senolytics may be combined with:
- Stem cell therapies
- Immune rejuvenation agents
- Nutritional and lifestyle interventions
- Biological age clocks and diagnostics
Such combinations could shift us from reactive to proactive medicine, treating aging as a modifiable process rather than a mysterious inevitability.
“We want to intercept decline, not just treat disease,” Quarta said.
Philosophical and Practical Reflections
When asked what excites him most, Quarta speaks less about profit margins and more about potential.
“This is one of the first times in history we have tools that could not only treat disease but transform how we experience aging,” he said.
But he also urges caution.
“We have to be rigorous. There’s a lot of hype in the space, and we don’t want to lose public trust. That means showing clear data, managing expectations, and working closely with regulators.”
What This Means for You: Translating the Science into Wellness
While senolytic drugs may not be available at your local pharmacy anytime soon, you can still take steps to support healthy cellular aging.
Lifestyle habits that reduce senescence:
- Exercise regularly
Physical activity improves immune surveillance and lowers systemic inflammation. - Eat a nutrient-dense, anti-inflammatory diet
Diets rich in polyphenols (like berries, green tea, and olive oil) may suppress senescence-related pathways. - Practice intermittent fasting or caloric moderation
Mild stress (called hormesis) can clear damaged cells and promote regeneration. - Prioritize sleep and stress management
Chronic stress accelerates biological aging and promotes cellular dysfunction. - Avoid unnecessary toxin exposure
Smoking, excessive alcohol, and environmental pollutants contribute to DNA damage and inflammation.
Final Thoughts: A New Era in Healthy Aging
We’re entering a moment in science where age-related decline is no longer seen as inevitable. By understanding and targeting the fundamental processes that drive aging—like cellular senescence—we’re opening doors to longer, stronger, and more vibrant lives.
Through the work of researchers like Marco Quarta and companies like Rubedo, we’re inching closer to therapies that not only extend lifespan but extend the quality of life.
And that, in the end, is what longevity is truly about—not just more years, but more years that feel like yours.