SENTCELL LTD

What SENTCELL LTD does

Sentcell Ltd is a London-based private biotechnology company founded in May 2019 that develops new chemical entity (NCE) therapies targeting T-cell ageing through modulation of the sMAC (Sestrin MAP kinase activation complex). The company's core platform is built around a macromolecular complex formed during T-cell ageing, comprising cellular rheostats (sestrins), an energy sensor (AMPK heterotrimer alpha, beta, gamma), and three effector kinases (JNK, ERK, p38). Based on this target, Sentcell has assembled a pipeline of five proprietary compound classes — DOS (Disruptors of sMAC), NOS (Negators), LOS (Lockers), COS (Collectors), and MOS (Mobilisers) — each addressing a distinct therapeutic mechanism. Approximately 50% of the sMAC complex remains biochemically undefined, and the company is conducting ongoing proprietary research to map the remaining components.

The company serves patients across multiple disease areas. The lead clinical candidate DOS46L targets elderly patients with immunosenescence, including applications in COVID-19 recovery and HIV treatment; DOS144D is being studied in oncology alone and in combination with checkpoint inhibitors. Later-stage programs address mitochondrial disease and lifespan extension (NOS), Alzheimer's disease (LOS), schizophrenia and neurodegenerative disorders (COS), and autoimmune conditions (MOS). DOS46L was completing the IMPD stage in Q1 2023, with First in Human dosing planned in late 2023 in elderly healthy volunteers receiving influenza vaccination. The science underpinning the platform is anchored by publications from founder Prof. Alessio Lanna in Nature Immunology (2014, 2017) and Nature Cell Biology (2022).

As a pre-clinical/early clinical stage biotech, Sentcell does not yet have commercialised products or established revenue mechanics. The company has secured seed funding (May 2019) and Series A funding (April 2021), with specific amounts undisclosed, to support its first-in-human program and pipeline expansion. The headcount is 1-10 employees and operations are concentrated at its London headquarters, with regulatory engagement in the UK (MHRA) and India (Indian Health Authorities). Future commercialisation would likely depend on pharmaceutical partnerships given the small internal footprint.

Name

SENTCELL LTD

Legal name

Sentcell Ltd

Website

https://sentcell.life

Company type

Private

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Sentcell Ltd is a London-based biotechnology company founded in 2019 that develops new chemical entity therapies targeting T-cell ageing through modulation of the sMAC complex, with a pipeline spanning immune rejuvenation, oncology, and neurodegenerative diseases.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Sentcell develops new chemical entity (NCE) therapies that target T-cell ageing through sMAC-modulating compounds. Its drug discovery platform engineers five distinct classes of compounds — Disruptors (DOS), Negators (NOS), Lockers (LOS), Collectors (COS), and Mobilisers (MOS) of sMAC — designed to selectively rejuvenate senescent T cells and modulate MAPK signaling for indications in immune aging, COVID-19, HIV, oncology, mitochondrial disease, Alzheimer's, schizophrenia, and autoimmune disorders.

Product overview

Sentcell is an exclusive NCE (New Chemical Entity) company that develops first-in-class human rejuvenating therapies by rational design focused on the sMAC pathway. The company operates a sMAC Targeting Platform that develops five distinct drug compound classes: Activate drugs (DOS) that target sMAC for ubiquitin dependent proteasome degradation leading to long-term rejuvenation; Negators of sMAC (NOS) providing reverse agonist activity for lifespan extension; Lockers of sMAC (LOS) to prevent spontaneous sMAC activation; Collectors of sMAC (COS) to unlock the complex for specific MAPK activation; and Mobilisers of sMAC (MOS) for immune suppression. Current pipeline candidates include DOS46L (immune/COVID-19 rejuvenation), DOS144D (oncology), and compounds targeting mitochondrial diseases, Alzheimer's disease, neurodegenerative disorders, and autoimmune conditions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• sMAC Targeting Platform Proprietary drug discovery and development platform targeting the Sestrin MAP kinase activation complex (sMAC) for selective rejuvenation of senescent T cells. The platform generates five classes of NCE compounds (DOS, NOS, LOS, COS, MOS) for internal pipeline development.
• DOS46L Lead clinical-stage sMAC Disruptor candidate targeting ubiquitin-dependent proteasome degradation of sMAC for immune rejuvenation, COVID-19 recovery, and HIV (Roman Regimen). Being developed for elderly populations with immunosenescence.
• DOS144D Pre-clinical sMAC Disruptor candidate for oncology indications, being evaluated both as monotherapy and in combination with checkpoint inhibitor therapies.
• ®NOS sMAC Negator candidate providing reverse agonist activity against an undisclosed sMAC-generating pathway for lifespan extension and treatment of mitochondrial diseases. In drug discovery and lead optimisation stage.
• ®LOS sMAC Locker candidate that supports an undisclosed molecule to prevent spontaneous sMAC activation, targeting Alzheimer's disease. In drug discovery and target validation stage.
• ®COS sMAC Collector candidate that unlocks the complex to provide specific in situ MAPK activation for neurodegenerative disorders such as schizophrenia. In drug discovery and target validation stage.
• ®*MOS sMAC Mobiliser candidate that mobilises sMAC energy sensing to drive immune suppression for autoimmune disorders. In drug discovery and lead optimisation stage (pending).

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• BioAge Labs: Clinical-stage biotech using AI-driven analysis of human ageing biology to discover drugs targeting the molecular drivers of ageing. Comparable to Sentcell as a small-molecule, pipeline-driven longevity biotech.
• Calico Labs: Alphabet-backed longevity biotech developing therapeutics that address the molecular drivers of ageing. Directly comparable to Sentcell as a discovery-stage company building a first-in-class ageing pipeline with platform-level ambitions.
• Altos Labs: Well-capitalised biotech developing cellular rejuvenation therapies aimed at restoring cell health to reverse disease and ageing. Comparable to Sentcell as a platform longevity company with multiple rejuvenation programs.
• Unity Biotechnology: Clinical-stage longevity biotech developing senolytics that selectively clear senescent cells to treat age-related disease. Comparable to Sentcell as a public-equity-listed longevity therapeutics company with small-molecule focus.

Broad incumbents

• Adaptimmune: Clinical-stage UK/US biotech developing engineered T-cell therapies (SPEAR T-cells) for solid tumours. Comparable to Sentcell as a UK-adjacent T-cell-focused therapeutics developer, though in cell therapy rather than small molecules.
• Immunocore: Clinical-stage UK biotech pioneering T-cell receptor-based therapeutics for cancer and infectious disease. Comparable to Sentcell as a UK-based TCR/immune-focused therapeutics company, though at much later commercial stage (Kimmtrak).

Emerging players

• NewLimit: Founder-led longevity biotech developing epigenetic reprogramming therapies to reverse cellular ageing. Comparable to Sentcell as a small, science-led longevity discovery company backed by a wealthy technology founder.
• Juvena Therapeutics: Preclinical biotech using a proprietary secretome platform to identify protein-based therapeutics that promote tissue regeneration and rejuvenation. Adjacent to Sentcell's rejuvenation thesis targeting T-cell ageing biology.
• Insilico Medicine: AI-driven drug discovery company with significant longevity/ageing programs including fibrosis and cancer. Comparable to Sentcell as an emerging-player longevity drug discovery company, though with much greater capital and AI infrastructure.
• Gordian Biotechnology: Preclinical biotech using a pooled in vivo screening platform to discover drugs that act on ageing pathways. Comparable to Sentcell as a small, platform-oriented longevity discovery company.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/Sentcell_Life
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sentcell-ltd
• Instagraminstagram.com/sentcell_life

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about SENTCELL LTD