Senolytic combo improves liver fibrosis in small placebo-controlled trial

What the study found

In a phase 2, double-blind trial of 31 adults with fibrotic MASH (fatty-liver inflammation), intermittent dasatinib plus quercetin improved fibrosis by at least one stage in 47% of treated participants versus 7% on placebo, judged by paired liver biopsies. Tissue sequencing showed lower senescence and fibrosis gene signatures in the treated group.

Why it matters for healthspan

It is among the first biopsy-confirmed, placebo-controlled signals that clearing senescent cells can improve a hard tissue outcome in people. The trial was tiny, adverse events were more common with treatment (82% vs 43%, all self-limiting), and it tested liver disease, not aging itself. Dasatinib is a prescription cancer drug, not a supplement.

Evidence level

Human RCT · Senescence

Source

Koning M, Kovynev A, Fondevila MF, et al. Nat Metab. 2026. doi:10.1038/s42255-026-01643-4

Educational summary curated by Farhan Tahir, MD, FACR. Not individual medical advice.