Blood Cancer Drug Homoharringtonine Selectively Eliminates Senescent Cells, Improving Obesity and Blood Glucose Control Simultaneously
 Potential to Alleviate Age-Related Diseases (Obesity, Diabetes, Chronic Inflammation) Together, with Significant Economic and Industrial Impact

Published in the Latest Issue of Nature Communications, a World-Renowned Journal in Natural Sciences

[April 1, 2026]

<Research Team at the Senotherapy-Based Metabolic Disease Control Research Center, Yeungnam University>

(From left: Professors KIM Eok-cheon, PARK So-young, and KIM Jae-ryong)

A research team led by Professor PARK So-young at the College of Medicine of Yeungnam University (YU), Director of the Senotherapy-Based Metabolic Disease Control Research Center, has gained significant attention for presenting a novel approach that selectively removes “senescent cells” accumulated in the body, thereby simultaneously improving obesity and blood glucose regulation.

 As the human body ages or becomes obese, senescent cells gradually accumulate in adipose (fat) tissue. These cells trigger inflammation, impair the function of surrounding cells and tissues, and consequently make weight gain more likely while hindering effective blood glucose control.

 The research team demonstrated through animal experiments that Homoharringtonine—a drug traditionally used to treat blood cancer and derived from the Cephalotaxus tree—can reduce senescent cells in adipose tissue while having minimal impact on normal cells. This leads to decreased inflammation and improved obesity and glucose regulation.

 Professor PARK So-young explained, “This study goes beyond merely alleviating symptoms.It identifies the accumulation of senescent cells as a key cause not only of aging but also of obesity and metabolic diseases, and proposes a new therapeutic approach that directly eliminates these cells.We expect this to significantly contribute to the treatment of diseases such as obesity and diabetes.”

 In today’s rapidly aging society, attention is shifting from simply extending life expectancy to increasing “healthy lifespan”—the period of life free from disease or disability. Age-related conditions such as obesity, diabetes, and chronic inflammatory diseases are widely recognized as major factors that increase healthcare costs and diminish quality of life. This study is particularly significant in that it suggests the possibility of simultaneously alleviating multiple chronic diseases by targeting one of the fundamental causes of the aging process, and is therefore evaluated as providing an important clue toward extending healthy lifespan.

 The findings are also expected to have significant ripple effects in both economic and industrial sectors. The global market for anti-aging therapeutics is rapidly expanding, and treatment strategies that directly target aging mechanisms are emerging as a key sector in the next-generation bio industry.  Notably, this study reveals a new function of an already clinically used drug, highlighting the significance of drug repositioning, which can greatly reduce development time and costs while increasing the likelihood of commercialization.   The potential applications are broad. Beyond obesity and type 2 diabetes, the findings may extend to various chronic diseases associated with aging and could lead to the development of precision therapies targeting senescent cells.

 The research team stated, “We plan to expand our investigation of the anti-aging effects of Homoharringtonine to muscle aging, particularly focusing on sarcopenia, a major age-related condition characterized by loss of muscle mass and strength.  We have also identified a key clue that Homoharringtonine inhibits HSPA5, a critical regulator of protein homeostasis within cells.” HSPA5 is known to help cells maintain function under stress and is closely associated with aging. The team added, “If we can precisely regulate HSPA5, it may enable a new therapeutic strategy to selectively control senescent cells. We are currently conducting research to develop inhibitors targeting HSPA5 and accelerating the development of safer and more effective next-generation anti-aging treatments. Ultimately, we aim to go beyond disease treatment and contribute to building a society where people age healthily.”

 Meanwhile, this study was supported by the National Research Foundation of Korea through its Basic Research Program (Leading Research Center and Excellent Research Support Projects), as well as by Gyeongsangbuk-do Province and Daegu Metropolitan City. The research was conducted in collaboration with YU’s Senotherapy-Based Metabolic Disease Control Research Center and a joint team led by Professor SUNG Hoon-gi at the University of Toronto and The Hospital for Sick Children in Canada.The findings were published online on March 31, 2026, in Nature Communications under the title:  “Homoharringtonine exhibits senotherapeutic activity that mitigates diet- and age-associated obesity and insulin resistance and extends lifespan in mice.”