The experimental senolytic peptide — disrupts FOXO4-p53 binding in senescent cells to trigger their apoptosis. Real mechanism, mouse data, practically no human clinical data.
FOXO4-DRI (also called FOXO4-D-retro-inverso) is a synthetic peptide engineered by Peter de Keizer’s group at Erasmus Medical Center. It’s a D-amino-acid retro-inverso analog of a 37-amino-acid fragment of FOXO4 — designed to interrupt the FOXO4-p53 interaction that keeps senescent cells alive.
The 2017 Cell paper (Baar et al.) is the foundational publication. In naturally aged mice, FOXO4-DRI selectively killed senescent cells and restored fur density, fitness, and kidney function. Since then: significant preclinical development; essentially zero published human clinical data.
Not FDA approved. No published human trials. Research chemical only. Not WADA prohibited.
Senescent cells survive despite accumulating damage partly because FOXO4 binds and sequesters p53 in the nucleus, preventing p53 from triggering apoptosis. FOXO4-DRI disrupts this binding, releasing p53 to execute the senescent cell — while leaving healthy cells unaffected.
The D-isoform stereochemistry makes the peptide resistant to protease degradation, giving it a meaningful in-vivo half-life despite being a peptide.
Healthy cells have lower FOXO4-p53 levels, so FOXO4-DRI doesn’t trigger apoptosis in them. This is what distinguishes senolytics from general cytotoxic drugs.
| Benefit | Evidence |
|---|---|
| Senescent cell clearance (mouse) | Baar 2017 Cell: selective elimination of senescent cells in naturally aged mice |
| Functional improvements (mouse) | Restored fur density, running capacity, and kidney function in aged mice |
| Post-chemo recovery (mouse) | Reduced chemotherapy-induced senescence and its long-term consequences |
| Human data | Virtually none — small open-label case reports, anecdotal biohacker self-experiments |
The mouse results are striking. The absence of human data is striking in the other direction. This is firmly in the "promising but unproven" category — treat accordingly.
Build your protocol, log every dose, monitor your body's response, and get reminders so you never miss a dose.
Start Tracking FreeThe "1 mg/kg" figure commonly passed around in senolytic circles comes directly from mouse dosing in Baar et al. (2017). Scaling a rodent dose to a 68 kg human by body weight alone is not how pharmacology works — species differ in metabolism, protein binding, receptor density, and clearance by orders of magnitude. A simple body-weight extrapolation to tens-of-milligrams human doses may be a dangerous overestimate and could plausibly underestimate systemic effects and toxicity.
There is no published human PK, safety, or dose-finding data. No defensible "correct" human dose exists. The community-circulated 1–5 mg/kg numbers should be read as "the only numbers around," not as validated doses.
Treat any use of FOXO4-DRI as experimental self-research. If you proceed, start at the lowest end of the range with medical supervision.
10 mg vial + 2 mL BAC water = 5 mg/mL. For a 150-lb person at 1 mg/kg (~68 kg), that’s 68 mg — more than one vial per dose.
Use our free peptide calculator to figure out your reconstitution volume, draw amount, and syringe units.
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The items below are anecdotal from self-experimenters, not findings from controlled human trials. The published FOXO4-DRI abstracts are exclusively preclinical (mouse models, in vitro).
FOXO4-DRI is a research peptide not approved by the FDA for human use. It is sold only as a research chemical, and StackTrax does not endorse or facilitate personal use.
Quality varies enormously among research-chemical suppliers. At minimum, look for:
StackTrax’s preferred partner NextGen Peptides does not currently carry FOXO4-DRIin their catalog, which is why you don’t see a direct purchase link here. Other major research-chemical suppliers carry it; we don’t specifically recommend one for this compound.
Build your protocol, log every dose, monitor your body's response, and get reminders so you never miss a dose.
Start Tracking FreeDisclaimer: This guide is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. The compounds discussed are not FDA approved for human use. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before starting any new supplement or peptide protocol. StackTrax does not sell peptides or supplements directly — purchase links go to third-party vendors. StackTrax is not responsible for the products, quality, or business practices of any third-party vendor. This page contains affiliate links — StackTrax may earn a commission on purchases at no extra cost to you.
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StackTrax guides cover peptides and compounds that are not FDA-approved for the uses discussed. The dosing, reconstitution, and safety information is compiled from published research and community protocols for educational purposes only.
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