STX-01

STX-01 (also referred to as STX-1) is a first-in-class senolytic antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) developed by StarkAge Therapeutics in collaboration with Gustave Roussy. It is designed to target dipeptidyl peptidase 4 (DPP4/CD26), a cell surface marker that is highly expressed on senescent cells and various tumor cells. STX-01 consists of a humanized IgG1 anti-DPP4 monoclonal antibody conjugated to an exatecan-derived topoisomerase I inhibitor payload via a cathepsin-cleavable linker. By selectively eliminating DPP4-expressing senescent and malignant cells, STX-01 aims to clear senescent cells that promote inflammation, fibrosis, and therapeutic resistance, thereby breaking down the fibrotic barriers in hard-to-treat solid tumors and advanced fibrosis. The drug is currently in preclinical development for hepatocellular carcinoma, digestive cancers (including gastric, pancreatic, and colorectal cancers), and liver fibrosis.