FOXO4-DRI

Preclinical

FOXO4-D-Retro-Inverso Peptide

Aliases
FOXO4-DRI, Proxofim
Administration
Subcutaneous injection (preclinical/animal research only)

Overview

FOXO4-DRI is a synthetic senolytic peptide engineered to disrupt the interaction between the FOXO4 protein and p53 inside senescent cells, selectively triggering their self-destruction (apoptosis) while sparing healthy cells. First described in a landmark 2017 study, it has since been studied in preclinical models of pulmonary fibrosis, cartilage degeneration, and general tissue aging.

Treatments studied

Treatment categories

Cellular senescence (preclinical)

Its core, defining mechanism — directly triggering apoptosis in senescent cells by disrupting their FOXO4-p53 survival signal.

Tissue fibrosis (preclinical)

Reduced senescent myofibroblast burden and collagen deposition in animal models of lung fibrosis.

Cartilage degeneration (preclinical)

Selectively removed senescent chondrocytes in laboratory-expanded human cartilage cells, improving their capacity to form healthy new cartilage.