PRISM Q&A CORNER
Peter Moriarty, COO, Klotho NeurosciencesKlotho Neurosciences Reviews the Secreted Klotho Gene (s-KL) and Its Potential in Treating Aging and Neurodegenerative Diseases Such as Alzheimer’ Disease
In light of Alzheimer’s Awareness Month, Klotho Neurosciences COO, Peter Moriarty, discusses how the Klotho gene in its secreted form may hold the key to treating multiple neurodegenerative diseases.
November is Alzheimer’s Awareness Month which focuses on increasing understanding of Alzheimer’s and the impact it has on the 6.2 million Americans suffering from the disease. Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive, age-related neurodegenerative disease affecting memory, cognition, and behavior. It is the most common cause of dementia, accounting for 60-80% of cases. Historically, Alzheimer’s treatments focused on managing symptoms without addressing the disease’s underlying biology. However, a new generation of therapies is targeting key mechanisms, such as protein accumulation, inflammation, and disrupted neuronal communication.
Recent groundbreaking research and emerging therapies have been aimed at enhancing human health and longevity. In particular, researchers have examined the secreted form of the Klotho gene, or s-KL and its powerful role in aging, which may hold the key to healthier aging and the treatment of devastating diseases like Alzheimer’s, ALS, and Parkinson’s.
PRISM MarketView spoke with Klotho Neurosciences (Nasdaq: KLTO) Chief Operating Officer, Peter Moriarty, who shared insights on what scientists know about the secreted form of Klotho, the exciting research surrounding it, and what the future might hold for this potential anti-aging therapy.
Q:A:Klotho is named after the Greek goddess of fate who spins the thread of life. It was fitting because Klotho plays a major role in regulating aging. In mammals, including humans, it exists in two main forms: a membrane-bound form and a secreted form, known as s-KL.
The membrane-bound Klotho is important for regulating calcium and phosphate homeostasis in the body, affecting various organs like the kidneys and brain. But the secreted form—s-KL—can circulate throughout the body and act almost like a hormone. And this secreted form has been shown to have an even wider-reaching impact on health and longevity.
Research suggests that higher levels of s-KL correlate with better cognitive function, enhanced longevity, and even protection against neurodegenerative diseases. In animal models, overexpression of the Klotho gene has been linked to extended lifespan and delayed aging.
Q:A:What makes s-KL so special is its broad protective role. It appears to act as a shield against various age-related stressors. It fights oxidative stress, reduces inflammation, and enhances the body’s ability to repair damage at the cellular level. All of these functions are critical in the context of aging.
Aging is essentially the accumulation of cellular damage over time, right? Well, s-KL seems to slow this process. It also enhances cellular waste removal, a process known as autophagy, which declines as we age. This means that s-KL could be acting as a systemic anti-aging agent, keeping our cells functioning more effectively, even as we grow older.
So, the idea of elevating s-KL levels in the body has garnered a lot of excitement. Imagine a future where we could enhance our natural levels of s-KL through gene therapy or pharmaceuticals, slowing down the aging process itself. In essence, this would mean healthier aging rather than simply extending the number of years we live. And that’s crucial—because what good is longevity without health?
But the potential of s-KL doesn’t stop with general aging. It might hold specific promise for combating some of the most challenging neurodegenerative diseases, and that is of particular interest to Klotho Neurosciences which through an exclusive worldwide licensing agreement with the Autonomous University of Barcelona, holds issued patent rights covering s-KL in the United States, Europe, and China.
Q:A:Neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s, ALS, and Parkinson’s, are some of the most devastating conditions people can face, both for patients and their families. Current treatments primarily focus on managing symptoms rather than addressing the underlying causes. That’s where s-KL comes in. There is growing evidence suggesting that s-KL could protect against the neurodegenerative processes at the heart of these diseases.
Let’s start with Alzheimer’s disease, the most common cause of dementia. Alzheimer’s is thought to be driven by the accumulation of beta-amyloid and tau toxic plaques in the brain, which lead to neuron death and memory loss. Remarkably, s-KL seems to reduce the formation of these plaques while also preserving synaptic function. In other words, s-KL could protect the brain’s communication networks and help maintain cognitive function in Alzheimer’s patients.
ALS—Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, is characterized by the progressive loss of motor neurons, which leads to muscle weakness, paralysis, and eventually death. Studies have shown that increasing Klotho levels in animal models can protect neurons from oxidative damage, one of the key drivers of ALS progression. This opens the door to the possibility that s-KL could slow or even halt the disease’s course.
Finally, Parkinson’s disease, a condition known for its impact on movement, caused by the death of dopamine-producing neurons in the brain also involves inflammation and oxidative stress—two things that s-KL is particularly good at combating. Early research suggests that s-KL might protect dopamine neurons, offering hope that it could be a game-changer for people with Parkinson’s.
The research is still in its early stages, but the potential is enormous.
Q:A:Most of the research so far has been conducted in animals, and while the results are very promising, we need robust human trials to confirm these benefits.
There’s also the challenge of delivery. How do we ensure that enough s-KL can reach the brain, muscles, or other tissues where it’s needed most? Klotho Neurosciences plans to use gene therapy as its priority method of delivery. This means that s-KL gene will be embedded into two different constructs of what is known as an Adeno Associated Virus (AAV) vector. (This is essentially similar to the way that the Covid vaccinations were delivered.) In the case of s-KL, Klotho Neurosciences plans to deliver the gene therapy not through an injection but, potentially, through a single, one-time, infusion. Of course, this is the early stage for Klotho Neurosciences in the development of its patented s-KL for Alzheimer’s, ALS, and Parkinson’s disease. But the good news is that research is advancing quickly in this area, and we anticipate commencing clinical trials in the near future.
The secreted Klotho gene, holds incredible promise for revolutionizing how we think about aging and neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s. Whether it’s slowing down the aging process itself, protecting our cognitive function as we grow older, or providing new hope for Alzheimer’s, ALS, and Parkinson’s patients, s-KL might just be the future of healthy longevity.
As we continue to learn more about this remarkable gene, we’re reminded that the key to extending our health span—the number of years we live in good health—may lie within us, in the very genes that govern how we age.
In light of Alzheimer’s Awareness Month, Klotho Neurosciences COO, Peter Moriarty, discusses how the Klotho gene in its secreted form may hold the key to treating multiple neurodegenerative diseases.
November is Alzheimer’s Awareness Month which focuses on increasing understanding of Alzheimer’s and the impact it has on the 6.2 million Americans suffering from the disease. Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive, age-related neurodegenerative disease affecting memory, cognition, and behavior. It is the most common cause of dementia, accounting for 60-80% of cases. Historically, Alzheimer’s treatments focused on managing symptoms without addressing the disease’s underlying biology. However, a new generation of therapies is targeting key mechanisms, such as protein accumulation, inflammation, and disrupted neuronal communication.
Recent groundbreaking research and emerging therapies have been aimed at enhancing human health and longevity. In particular, researchers have examined the secreted form of the Klotho gene, or s-KL and its powerful role in aging, which may hold the key to healthier aging and the treatment of devastating diseases like Alzheimer’s, ALS, and Parkinson’s.
PRISM MarketView spoke with Klotho Neurosciences (Nasdaq: KLTO) Chief Operating Officer, Peter Moriarty, who shared insights on what scientists know about the secreted form of Klotho, the exciting research surrounding it, and what the future might hold for this potential anti-aging therapy.
Klotho is named after the Greek goddess of fate who spins the thread of life. It was fitting because Klotho plays a major role in regulating aging. In mammals, including humans, it exists in two main forms: a membrane-bound form and a secreted form, known as s-KL.
The membrane-bound Klotho is important for regulating calcium and phosphate homeostasis in the body, affecting various organs like the kidneys and brain. But the secreted form—s-KL—can circulate throughout the body and act almost like a hormone. And this secreted form has been shown to have an even wider-reaching impact on health and longevity.
Research suggests that higher levels of s-KL correlate with better cognitive function, enhanced longevity, and even protection against neurodegenerative diseases. In animal models, overexpression of the Klotho gene has been linked to extended lifespan and delayed aging.
What makes s-KL so special is its broad protective role. It appears to act as a shield against various age-related stressors. It fights oxidative stress, reduces inflammation, and enhances the body’s ability to repair damage at the cellular level. All of these functions are critical in the context of aging.
Aging is essentially the accumulation of cellular damage over time, right? Well, s-KL seems to slow this process. It also enhances cellular waste removal, a process known as autophagy, which declines as we age. This means that s-KL could be acting as a systemic anti-aging agent, keeping our cells functioning more effectively, even as we grow older.
So, the idea of elevating s-KL levels in the body has garnered a lot of excitement. Imagine a future where we could enhance our natural levels of s-KL through gene therapy or pharmaceuticals, slowing down the aging process itself. In essence, this would mean healthier aging rather than simply extending the number of years we live. And that’s crucial—because what good is longevity without health?
But the potential of s-KL doesn’t stop with general aging. It might hold specific promise for combating some of the most challenging neurodegenerative diseases, and that is of particular interest to Klotho Neurosciences which through an exclusive worldwide licensing agreement with the Autonomous University of Barcelona, holds issued patent rights covering s-KL in the United States, Europe, and China.
Neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s, ALS, and Parkinson’s, are some of the most devastating conditions people can face, both for patients and their families. Current treatments primarily focus on managing symptoms rather than addressing the underlying causes. That’s where s-KL comes in. There is growing evidence suggesting that s-KL could protect against the neurodegenerative processes at the heart of these diseases.
Let’s start with Alzheimer’s disease, the most common cause of dementia. Alzheimer’s is thought to be driven by the accumulation of beta-amyloid and tau toxic plaques in the brain, which lead to neuron death and memory loss. Remarkably, s-KL seems to reduce the formation of these plaques while also preserving synaptic function. In other words, s-KL could protect the brain’s communication networks and help maintain cognitive function in Alzheimer’s patients.
ALS—Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, is characterized by the progressive loss of motor neurons, which leads to muscle weakness, paralysis, and eventually death. Studies have shown that increasing Klotho levels in animal models can protect neurons from oxidative damage, one of the key drivers of ALS progression. This opens the door to the possibility that s-KL could slow or even halt the disease’s course.
Finally, Parkinson’s disease, a condition known for its impact on movement, caused by the death of dopamine-producing neurons in the brain also involves inflammation and oxidative stress—two things that s-KL is particularly good at combating. Early research suggests that s-KL might protect dopamine neurons, offering hope that it could be a game-changer for people with Parkinson’s.
The research is still in its early stages, but the potential is enormous.
Most of the research so far has been conducted in animals, and while the results are very promising, we need robust human trials to confirm these benefits.
There’s also the challenge of delivery. How do we ensure that enough s-KL can reach the brain, muscles, or other tissues where it’s needed most? Klotho Neurosciences plans to use gene therapy as its priority method of delivery. This means that s-KL gene will be embedded into two different constructs of what is known as an Adeno Associated Virus (AAV) vector. (This is essentially similar to the way that the Covid vaccinations were delivered.) In the case of s-KL, Klotho Neurosciences plans to deliver the gene therapy not through an injection but, potentially, through a single, one-time, infusion. Of course, this is the early stage for Klotho Neurosciences in the development of its patented s-KL for Alzheimer’s, ALS, and Parkinson’s disease. But the good news is that research is advancing quickly in this area, and we anticipate commencing clinical trials in the near future.
The secreted Klotho gene, holds incredible promise for revolutionizing how we think about aging and neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s. Whether it’s slowing down the aging process itself, protecting our cognitive function as we grow older, or providing new hope for Alzheimer’s, ALS, and Parkinson’s patients, s-KL might just be the future of healthy longevity.
As we continue to learn more about this remarkable gene, we’re reminded that the key to extending our health span—the number of years we live in good health—may lie within us, in the very genes that govern how we age.
