Senomorphics
Also: Senostatics, SASP inhibitors
Compounds that suppress the inflammatory signals senescent cells release (the SASP) without killing the cells, unlike senolytics, which clear the cells outright.
Full explainer: Senomorphics vs. Senolytics
Senomorphics are a class of compounds studied for their ability to modulate senescent cell behavior, in particular the senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP), the mix of inflammatory signals senescent cells release into surrounding tissue. Unlike senolytics, which selectively kill senescent cells, senomorphics leave the cells alive and instead interrupt the signaling pathways, most notably NF-kB, mTOR, and JAK/STAT, that drive SASP production.
Several drugs already approved for other conditions have shown a senomorphic effect in research settings, including rapamycin (an mTOR inhibitor), metformin, and ruxolitinib (a JAK1/2 inhibitor). None is approved specifically as a senomorphic for aging; the senomorphic effect has been observed in preclinical and laboratory research rather than in trials designed around aging outcomes.
Worth Knowing
Senomorphic is easy to confuse with senolytic since both address senescent cells, and marketing copy sometimes uses the terms loosely. The distinction is mechanical: senolytics kill the cell, senomorphics quiet what the cell secretes while it stays alive.