(Vienna, 03 June 2025) Rockfish Bio, a spin-off of BOKU and Medical University of Vienna, convinced the jury with its novel senolytic drug candidates, which specifically target and remove senescent cells — aged, dysfunctional cells that accumulate in tissues over time and contribute to chronic diseases. By leveraging a specific metabolic pathway found in these aged cells, Rockfish Bio's compounds eliminate them without harming healthy cells. With the S&B Award, the Rudolf Sallinger Fund honors early-stage commercialization ideas based on scientific achievement.
Preclinical studies have shown remarkable effects, including extension of both lifespan and healthspan and restoration of neuromuscular function, supporting the therapeutic potential of these compounds in promoting healthy aging and treating age-related conditions.
“We are honored to receive the S&B Award. This recognition is a great motivation and validation of our mission to develop effective therapies against aging-related diseases,” said Ingo Lämmermann, CSO/COO of Rockfish Bio.
The award-winning team includes Ingo Lämmermann and Johannes Grillari from BOKU University, Vienna and Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Traumatology, who co-founded Rockfish Bio together with Otto Kanzler and Thomas Streimelweger, red-stars as a spin-off of BOKU and Medical University of Vienna. The spin off is based on the outcomes of groundbreaking senescence research by the Labs of Johannes Grillari (then BOKU) and Florian Gruber (Department of Dermatology, Medical University of Vienna).