aKLmRNA-mediated Protein Replacement Therapy

A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-controlled Phase 1b Study to Evaluate the Safety, Tolerability, and Pharmacokinetics (Protein Expression) of Multiple Administrations of Alpha Klotho mRNA (aKLmRNA), aKL003

This is a Phase 1b randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study to assess the safety and tolerability of a proprietary aKLmRNA formulated in lipid nanoparticles. Approximately 21 subjects will be enrolled.

Each subject will receive a total of two injections during the study. The cohort will consist of approximately 21 subjects, with each receiving 0.5 mg aKLmRNA (AKL003) or placebo. Subjects will be randomized in a 2:1 ratio (active treatment:placebo). The placebo will be saline, matching the active treatment in both appearance and volume.

Study Overview

• Status: Not yet recruiting
• Conditions: Aging
• Intervention / Treatment: Drug: aKLmRNA (AKL003); Other: Placebo

Detailed Description

Systemic reactogenicity events, such as fever, headache, myalgia, fatigue, nausea/vomiting, diarrhea, and increased heart rate, will be assessed as adverse events using the WHO grading scale.

All subjects will be informed about potential clinical activity and reactogenicity, which may be influenced by increased aKL serum levels or the lipid nanoparticle formulation. Participants will be instructed to contact the study site to schedule an on-site visit in case of any unexpected adverse event (unscheduled visit, see Schedule of Activities table). All such occurrences will be documented as part of the drug candidate's safety evaluation.

Subjects will provide self-reported data on clinical activity, duration, and effects via a digital diary and in-person assessments during scheduled clinic visits. Additionally, they will be provided with an electronic memory aid for daily symptom tracking throughout the study. Participants will also complete a Quality-of-Life Impact Questionnaire (QOLIQ) at baseline and weekly throughout the study. Furthermore, continuous monitoring of heart rate, heart rate variability, and sleep quality will be conducted using a minimally invasive Oura ring.

Participants randomized to placebo who successfully complete the randomized Phase I study may be offered participation in an optional open-label extension to receive Klotho. The purpose of the open-label extension is to provide access to the investigational product and to collect additional safety and pharmacokinetic data. Participation in the open-label extension is voluntary and subject to predefined eligibility criteria and safety review. Data from the open-label extension will be analyzed separately and will not contribute to the primary analysis of the randomized Phase I study.

Participants randomized to placebo in the randomized Phase I study will not receive investigational product during the blinded treatment period. In order to provide eligible participants access to Klotho after completion of the randomized study phase and to collect additional safety and pharmacokinetic data, an optional open-label extension (OLE) is planned.

The open-label extension is not intended to evaluate efficacy and is not part of the primary analysis of the randomized Phase I study.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Estimated): 21
• Phase: Phase 1

Contacts and Locations

• Study Contact: Name: Agustin Fernandez III; Phone Number: 786-542-5499; Email: AFS@advantagetherapeutics.com

Study Locations

• Honduras
  • Bay Islands
    • Roatán, Bay Islands, Honduras, 34101
      • GARM
      • Contact: Heather Terry; Phone Number: (504) 2408-3544; Email: heather@garmclinic.com

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult; Older Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Description

Subjects will only be included in the trial if they meet all following criteria:

1. Written informed consent (ICF) signed and dated by the patient
2. Ability and willingness to co-operate with the investigator and to comply with the requirements of the entire study.
3. Healthy subjects, 25 50 to 75 90 years of age
4. Sexually active females of childbearing potential and male partners of sexually active females of childbearing potential must use medically accepted form of contraception or be surgically sterile (hysterectomy or bilateral oophorectomy).
5. Women of childbearing potential and men with female partners of childbearing potential must use an effective method of birth control during the course of the trial and for at least 90 days after the last dose in a manner such that risk of failure is minimized. Male participants should refrain from donating sperm during the intervention period and for at least 90 days after the last dose of study intervention (see additional considerations in section 5.3)
6. Females of childbearing potential must have a negative pregnancy test at the time of enrollment (serum hCG test)

Exclusion Criteria:

Subjects will be excluded from the trial if they present one or more of the following conditions:

1. Known of suspected allergy to IMP or related procedure
2. Known or suspected allergy, or history of anaphylaxis, to vaccines or their excipients, if considered relevant by the Investigator
3. Contraindications for the use of emergency treatments
4. Clinically relevant findings at screening, e.g., active diseases of any kind particularly infections
5. History of chronic alcohol or drug abuse/ dependence within the past 5 yearsUse of any prescription or over-the-counter medication within 7 days prior to first dosing or planned use during the study period, with the exception of medications considered medically necessary and administered at a stable dose and regimen. Stable medication is defined as medication for which no initiation, discontinuation, or dose adjustment has occurred for at least 3 monthsprior to first dosing and for which no change is anticipated during the study period. Occasional use of paracetamol (acetaminophen) and/or ibuprofen is permitted at the discretion of the investigator.
6. Employee at the study site, spouse/partner or relative of any study staff (e.g., investigator, sub investigators, or study nurse) or employee of the Sponsor
7. Known or suspected pregnancy, planned pregnancy of lactation
8. Clinically significant unstable psychiatric illness in the past 6 months
9. Presence of autoimmune disease, autoinflammatory syndrome, or immunological deficiency syndrome (including human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection)
10. Relevant cardiovascular, hepatic, gastroenterological, respiratory, endocrinological, hematologic disease, or any other condition that, in the Investigator's opinion, could interfere with the analyses of safety and efficacy in this study, unless patient has been on stable doses of medication for any of these concurrent illnesses for at least 3 months prior to study entry
11. Presence of end stage kidney failure (on dialysis)
12. Current or anticipated use of immunosuppressive drugs such as, but not limited to, azathioprine, cyclosporine, methotrexate, tacrolimus, or mycophenylate within 2 months or any myelosuppressive or cytotoxic chemotherapies within the 12 months prior to the screening visit. Use of systemic corticosteroids equivalent to ≥20mg/week prednisone within the past 4 weeks before screening and during the course of the study (intranasal or inhaled steroids for allergies/asthma is allowed)
13. History within the last 2 years of a primary or recurrent malignant disease with the exception of resected cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma in situ, basal cell carcinoma, cervical carcinoma in situ, or in situ prostate cancer with a normal prostate-specific antigen posttreatment; or has a life expectancy of <2 years.
14. Patients with long covid-19 showing long-term neurological sequelae within the past 12 months at the time of screening
15. Has had a history within the last 5 years of a serious infectious disease affecting the brain, liver, lung and/or kidneys.
16. Refractory epilepsy (has had seizures within the past 2 years)
17. Hypothyroidism or vitamin B12 deficiency (patients with corrected hypothyroidism or vitamin B12 deficiency are eligible for the study provided that treatment has been stable for 3 months before study entry)
18. Patient has hemochromatosis
19. Pre-existing PEG antibodies of significant levels

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Prevention
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: Quadruple

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: aKLmRNA (AKL003); Each subject will be treated every 4 weeks for a total of 2 times with aKLmRNA (AKL003)	Drug: aKLmRNA (AKL003); Each subject will be treated every 4 weeks for a total of 2 times with aKLmRNA via i.v.
Placebo Comparator: Placebo; Each subject will be treated every 4 weeks for a total of 2 times with TRIS-Buffer	Other: Placebo; Each subject will be treated every 4 weeks for a total of 2 times with TRIS buffer

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Overall incidence and severity of unsolicited AEs by treatment group	• To characterize the overall safety and tolerability of multiple administrations of the Investigational Medicinal product (IMP), aKLmRNA (AKL003), in healthy volunteers	From first dose through end of study (Day 60)
• Overall incidence and severity of solicited reactogenicity events by treatment group	• To characterize the overall safety and tolerability of multiple administrations of the Investigational Medicinal product (IMP), aKLmRNA (AKL003), in healthy volunteers	From first dose through end of study (Day 60)

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
• Increase in serum aKL levels over the mean of the baseline values until end of study	• To characterize the serum levels of aKL protein as a function of the dose applied and time post administration.	Baseline through Day 60
• aKL serum level by treatment group	• To characterize the serum levels of aKL protein as a function of the dose applied and time post administration.	Baseline through Day 60

Other Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
• Change from baseline to day 60 in episodic memory performance measrued by Face-Name Associative Memory Exam	• To characterize the clinical activity after multiple administrations of aKLmRNA AKL003	Baseline through Day 60
• Change from baseline to day 60 in attention and inhibitory control measured Flanker Test	• To explore the effects of aKLmRNA administration on functional and biological domains relevant to aging and healthspan, including cognitive function	Baseline through Day 60
• Change from baseline to day 60 in working memory performance measured by NIH Toolbox List Sorting Working Memory Test	• To explore the effects of aKLmRNA administration on functional and biological domains relevant to aging and healthspan, including cognitive function	Baseline through Day 60
• Change from baseline to day 60 in processing speed assessed by Oral Symbol Digit Test	• To explore the effects of aKLmRNA administration on functional and biological domains relevant to aging and healthspan, including cognitive function	Baseline through Day 60
• Change from baseline to day 60 in reaction time using digital repeated measures	• To explore the effects of aKLmRNA administration on functional and biological domains relevant to aging and healthspan, including cognitive function,	Baseline through Day 60
• Change from baseline in selected standardized neuropsychological assessments aligned with established cognitive testing platforms (CANTAB-based measures)	• To explore the effects of aKLmRNA administration on functional and biological domains relevant to aging and healthspan, including cognitive function,	Baseline through Day 60
• Change from baseline to day 60 in grip strength measured by a hand dynamometer	• To explore the effects of aKLmRNA administration on functional and biological domains relevant to aging and healthspan, physical (muscle) function	Baseline through Day 60
• Change from baseline to day 60 in functional exercise capacity assessed by6 -minute walk test	• To explore the effects of aKLmRNA administration on functional and biological domains relevant to aging and healthspan, physical (muscle) function	Baseline through Day 60
• Change from baseline to day 60 in lower body functional performance assessed by chair-rise or comparable assessment	• To explore the effects of aKLmRNA administration on functional and biological domains relevant to aging and healthspan, physical (muscle) function	Baseline through Day 60
• Change from baseline to day 60 in NAD+ levels measured in serum	• To explore the effects of aKLmRNA administration on functional and biological domains relevant to aging and healthspan, i immune/inflammatory function	Baseline through Day 60
Change from baseline in telomere length (T/S ratio) in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), as measured by quantitative PCR (qPCR), at Day 60		Baseline through Day 60

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Klothea Bio Inc
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Douglas A Tucker, MD, GARM

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Estimated): May 15, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): November 30, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): November 30, 2026

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: April 5, 2026
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: April 15, 2026
• First Posted (Actual): April 22, 2026

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): April 22, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: April 15, 2026
• Last Verified: April 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: mRNA; Longevity; Healthy Aging; Klotho
• Other Study ID Numbers: AKL003

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: UNDECIDED

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No