Klotho Therapeutics, a company founded by Jim Plante, currently focuses on the use of natural Klotho protein in the treatment of chronic kidney disease and acute kidney disorders. The protein occurs naturally in humans and animals; the company has been developing a form that can be patented and used to help people live longer, healthier lives. With some 40 million U.S. residents dealing with chronic kidney disease, the possibility of more effective treatments is of great interest.
The Klotho Protein
With long experience at Pathway Genomics, another company founded by Mr. Plante, this entrepreneur was ready to branch out into a more concentrated effort to heal disease. Genetic testing has a multitude of other uses, but the possibility of using Klotho protein for substantial improvements in human health is compelling to many scientists. Klotho is a gene that functions as a hormone. It has anti-aging and antioxidant properties, reducing oxidative stress in the body.
Future advances in genetic testing might indicate the best choices to make in regard to treatments. The overriding long-term goal would be to completely prevent or at least significantly delay all forms of kidney disease as well as other illnesses associated with aging. Some of those include Type 2 diabetes, cancer, Alzheimer’s disease and hypertension. Of course, some of these illnesses affect very young people as well.
About 600,000 U.S. residents are on dialysis. Kidney disease is one of the most common causes of death in older individuals, and it can happen to younger men and women too. There are not nearly enough kidneys available for transplant to meet the demand among people facing a death sentence without a new organ.
Klotho Therapeutics tackles the problem of kidney disease from different angles. For instance, once a patient has been diagnosed, the use of Klotho protein might be able to slow the progression of the disorder.
People with little scientific background, especially in the realm of human physiology and genetics, may have trouble understanding the research as presented in academic journals. They might want to find articles tailored toward the layperson that explain the new developments in less technical language.