Company

Cyclarity Therapeutics (formerly Underdog Pharmaceuticals)

Last updated 2026-05-30· 1 min read

Reviewed by the Ultimate Longevity Bible editorial team. Educational reference — not medical advice. See disclaimer.

What it does

Cyclarity (rebranded from Underdog Pharmaceuticals 2022) develops modified cyclodextrins that selectively bind and remove 7-ketocholesterol — a toxic, oxidised cholesterol species that accumulates in atherosclerotic plaques and resists conventional clearance.

The approach is "damage-removal" rather than damage-prevention — trying to clear plaque content directly, complementing LDL-lowering that prevents new plaque.

Background

Cyclarity emerged from SENS Research Foundation, which funded the foundational work on 7-ketocholesterol and cyclodextrin chemistry. Aubrey de Grey and other SENS-network figures are involved.

State

Pre-clinical / early-clinical. First-in-human trials beginning in atherosclerosis indications.

Why it’s interesting

Represents the "damage repair" wing of geroscience that SENS has long advocated.
A different approach from the dominant LDL-lowering paradigm in atherosclerosis.
If successful, would be a true regression therapy rather than prevention.

What it is

Cyclarity Therapeutics (formerly Underdog Pharmaceuticals) is developing cyclodextrin-based therapies to remove 7-ketocholesterol (7KC) and other oxidised sterols from atherosclerotic plaques — a targeted approach to reversing established cardiovascular disease rather than only preventing new plaque formation.

Mechanism

7-ketocholesterol accumulates in foam cells and drives macrophage apoptosis, plaque instability, and progression. Cyclarity's lead molecule (UDP-003) is designed to selectively encapsulate 7KC and enable its removal.

Position

Cyclarity is one of the more mechanistically-focused longevity biotechs — targeting a specific damaged molecule rather than an overall pathway. Success would validate the SENS-style damage-decomposition framework championed by Aubrey de Grey, from whose Methuselah Foundation early support was provided.