Our Strategy

Over 3,000 Klotho-related research papers have been published so far and they all point to the potential Klotho has in prevention and treatment of diseases, allowing us to live longer, healthy and active lives. Transgenic mice that overexpress Klotho live 30% longer and have approximately 50% higher Klotho levels than wild type mice. Such mice were used in some of the studies demonstrating the benefits of Klotho. 

Achieving an increase in Klotho levels similar to that which is seen in the Klotho overexpressing transgenic mice, i.e. a “Klotho boost” beyond typical normal levels, is possible when using certain therapeutic modalities. However, with some other strategies the best we can probably expect is bringing Klotho levels back to where they normally were a few years earlier, i.e. “Klotho restoration”.

There are currently a number of issued patents and patent applications (industry and academia) on the use of manufactured recombinant Klotho protein, its fragments, and modified fragments, as a therapeutic. None of these have reached the clinic yet, primarily due to challenges in producing drug quality stable and reproducible Klotho with the same characteristics as the naturally occurring protein in the human body.

In contrast to the above, Klogenix has chosen a two-prong drug discovery approach: (i) target the natural production and regulation mechanisms of endogenous Klotho, and (ii) deliver exogenous Klotho genetic material into our cells and let them be the production machinery of the protein in order to achieve these goals

In addition to the traditional small molecules drug discovery path, approaches we evaluated/studied/are currently studying include the use of DNA Therapeutics, Adeno-Associated Viral Vectors (AAV), CRISPR-Associated Protein 9, RNA Therapeutics, Antisense Oligonucleotides (ASO), Long non-coding RNAs, microRNAs, mRNA Therapeutics, Lipid-based Nano Particles etc.  

However, not all modalities of Klotho elevation are a fit for all conditions. Required route and frequency of administration, acute versus chronic treatment and economics are some of the considerations. Klogenix selected the therapeutic modality for its first target indications after thoroughly evaluating the pros and cons of the various approaches.

Klogenix is currently a virtual company, outsourcing all of its research and development.