Insilico Medicine’s AI-Powered Robotics Lab Uncovers Promising Anti-Aging Properties of Candidate Compound
A new study led by researchers at Insilico Medicine (MA, U.S.) employed a fully automated robotics laboratory to uncover anti-aging properties of its candidate drug for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). Called INS018_055, the research found that this compound reduced markers of cellular senescence, a process implicated in many age-related diseases.
AI Meets Robotics
The research, published in Aging and Disease, not only showcases a remarkable engineering feat with the use a fully automated robotics lab, but critically unveils anti-aging properties of INS018_055, which recently completed phase IIa trails for the treatment of IPF.
The automated laboratory integrated six functional modules to test the compound’s effects across multiple models of cellular aging. This system allowed the scientists to conduct thousands of analyses in a high-throughput pipeline.
Video illustrating the robotics lab in action. Sample Intake and Quality Control (SIQC), Compound Management System (CMS), High-Throughput Screening (HTS), Cell Culture (CC), High-Content Imaging (IMG), and Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS). (Credit: Insilico Medicine)
Targeting Cellular Senescence
Cellular senescence occurs when cells stop dividing and begin releasing pro-inflammatory factors in a process known as the senescence-associated secretory phenotype. Such cells accumulate over time and are linked to conditions like IPF and other degenerative diseases. INS018_055 works by inhibiting Traf2- and Nck-interacting kinase (TNIK), a key regulator in signaling pathways that drive fibrosis and inflammation.
In several laboratory models, including fibroblast cultures treated with chemotherapy agents and cells induced to age through repeated passaging, treatment with INS018_055 resulted in a marked reduction in senescence markers.
Insilico Medicine AI & Robotics Pipeline (Credit: Insilico Medicine)
The compound lowered the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines and reduced extracellular matrix deposition—two hallmarks of aging-related tissue deterioration. Notably, these effects were achieved without significantly impacting overall cell viability.
Implications for Age-Related Disorders
The study’s findings suggest that INS018_055 could serve as a senomorphic agent— one that suppresses the harmful secretions of senescent cells rather than eliminating the cells altogether.
This approach is particularly appealing because it may avoid the potential side effects associated with senolytic drugs, which target and kill senescent cells. By modulating the activity of TNIK, the compound appears to disrupt key pathways such as TGF-β and Wnt/β-catenin signaling, both of which are involved in aging and fibrotic diseases.
While INS018_055 was initially developed as an anti-fibrotic treatment and has shown promise in early clinical trials for conditions like IPF, this research broadens its potential application to anti-aging therapies.
However, further studies, including in vivo investigations, are needed to confirm these effects and assess long-term safety.
Looking Ahead
Ultimately, this research offers a glimpse of how future drug development may evolve, with AI guiding every phase from initial molecule design to advanced preclinical evaluations. If INS018_055 continues to show benefits in ongoing clinical trials, it could mark a major step forward in the use of generative AI to produce more precise and effective treatments for complex diseases.
