RTR242

**RTR242** is a small molecule drug developed by Retro Biosciences to stimulate autophagy, the cellular recycling process that clears damaged proteins and organelles, which declines with age and contributes to neurodegeneration. It restores lysosomal acidity to enhance late-stage autophagy, reducing protein aggregates in preclinical models of Alzheimer's disease while showing selectivity to avoid toxicity in healthy cells. The compound is administered as an oral liquid solution (powder dissolved in 6.25-25ml liquid) and targets age-related diseases by reactivating fundamental cellular maintenance mechanisms, with potential broader applications in conditions like Parkinson's.