RESEARCH MONOGRAPH · KDC-MN-297

Dasatinib

May 9, 2026 Kodiac biolabs Research Revised May 30, 2026 3 min read

Our opinion on this compound

74/100

The 'D' in D+Q, and the senolytic that put the field on the map, but the research story is way bigger than just senescence

Dasatinib is one of those compounds where the senolytic story is the most exciting recent chapter but it's not the whole book. Originally Bristol-Myers Squibb developed it as Sprycel, a second-generation BCR-ABL tyrosine kinase inhibitor for CML that handles the imatinib-resistance mutations. It's a multikinase inhibitor with serious off-target activity (Src family kinases, PDGFR, EPHA2, c-Kit), and the broad target spectrum is exactly why it ended up being interesting outside oncology.

The senolytic story starts with the Kirkland and Tchkonia work at Mayo in 2015. The dasatinib-plus-quercetin combination (D+Q, the senolytic cocktail) was the first chemical intervention that demonstrably reduced senescent cell burden in vivo in mouse models, with downstream effects on physical function, frailty markers, and lifespan in certain models. The mechanism rationale is that dasatinib hits the EPHB receptors and other senescent cell antiapoptotic pathway nodes, while quercetin handles a parallel set of survival pathways (BCL-XL primarily). Together you push senescent cells past their apoptosis threshold.

The clinical translation has been slower than the preclinical excitement suggested. The early phase 1/2 work in diabetic kidney disease and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis showed some signals on senescence biomarkers but the clinical endpoints have been mixed. The dosing protocols (intermittent, hit-and-run rather than chronic) are still being optimized.

What we like: validated mechanism on senescent cell clearance, well-characterized pharmacology, and a genuinely interesting non-oncology research story. The intermittent dosing logic is mechanistically sound, the half-life is short enough to clear quickly, and the senolytic effect persists past drug exposure because you're killing cells not modulating them.

What we dont love is the safety profile on chronic dosing. Dasatinib at oncology doses has pleural effusions, cardiac effects, hemorrhage risk, and meaningful myelosuppression. The senolytic protocols use much lower cumulative exposure but the long-term safety at intermittent senolytic doses is still being mapped.

Sourcing is generally good. Pharma-grade dasatinib monohydrate is well-characterized, USP-monographed, research-grade material from competent suppliers is reliable, and HPLC is straightforward.

Evidence: 75
Mechanism: 80
Reliability: 72
Safety: 55
Sourcing: 82
Value: 70
Signal: 78
Staying power: 78

Plain-language summary Intrigue 80 / 100

Dasatinib (Sprycel) is a multi-target kinase inhibitor approved in 2006 for chronic myeloid leukemia and Philadelphia-chromosome-positive ALL. The longevity world cares about it for a different reason: in 2015, Kirkland and Tchkonia at Mayo Clinic showed that dasatinib combined with quercetin (a natural flavonoid) selectively kills senescent cells, those zombie cells that accumulate with age and pump out inflammatory signals. The combination, dubbed D+Q, became the prototype senolytic regimen and is in human trials for diabetic kidney disease, Alzheimer disease, and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. The intermittent dosing (a few days per month) is meant to clear senescent cells without sustained kinase inhibitor exposure. Not stocked by Kodiac. This monograph is provided for research and educational reference.

Intrigue 0–100 blends mechanism novelty, evidence strength, and translational potential. Kodiac editorial, not peer-reviewed.

Tyrosine kinase inhibitor / senolytic

A multi-target tyrosine kinase inhibitor approved for chronic myeloid leukemia; repurposed in senolytic combination therapy with quercetin (D+Q).

Abstract

Dasatinib (BMS-354825; CAS 302962-49-8; molecular formula C22H26ClN7O2S; molecular weight 488.01) is a multi-target tyrosine kinase inhibitor developed at Bristol-Myers Squibb and approved by the FDA in 2006 under the trade name Sprycel for chronic myeloid leukemia and Philadelphia chromosome-positive ALL. The senolytic application emerged from work by Kirkland and Tchkonia at Mayo Clinic (2015 onward) demonstrating that the combination of dasatinib (targeting senescent cells of mesenchymal origin) and quercetin (targeting senescent cells of epithelial origin) selectively eliminates senescent cells while sparing healthy cells. The D+Q regimen has been advanced into multiple clinical trials in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, diabetic kidney disease, Alzheimer disease, and other age-related conditions, with intermittent dosing (e.g., 100 mg for 3 days monthly) hypothesized to clear accumulated senescent cells without continuous chemotherapy exposure. Plasma half-life is approximately 5 hours; metabolism is via CYP3A4. Used as the canonical senolytic small molecule with clinical translation.

Mechanism of action

Multi-target tyrosine kinase inhibitor (BCR-ABL, SRC family, KIT, PDGFR, EPHA2). Senolytic activity via SRC-mediated apoptosis pathways in senescent cells of mesenchymal origin.

Reported research dose ranges

Clinical CML 100 mg in the published literature. Senolytic 100 mg for 3 days monthly (with quercetin 1000 mg for 3 days).

References

Zhu Y, et al. The Achilles' heel of senescent cells: from transcriptome to senolytic drugs. Aging Cell 2015.
Hickson LJ, et al. Senolytics decrease senescent cells in humans: preliminary report from a clinical trial of dasatinib plus quercetin in individuals with diabetic kidney disease. EBioMedicine 2019.
Justice JN, et al. Senolytics in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis: results from a first-in-human, open-label, pilot study. EBioMedicine 2019.

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KDC-MN-297

The full reference document is provided strictly for research use only. It reports research dose ranges from the published literature, not instructions for use in humans or animals.

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FOR RESEARCH USE ONLY. Not for medical, diagnostic, or therapeutic purposes. Not for human consumption. All information is provided for research and educational purposes only.

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Dasatinib

Abstract

Mechanism of action

Reported research dose ranges

References

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Abstract

Mechanism of action

Reported research dose ranges

References

Read the full monograph

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