Jocasta Neuroscience Secures a Direct UCSF License for α-Klotho Technology

Jocasta Neuroscience Secures a Direct UCSF License for α-Klotho Technology

On August 19, the company announced a direct, exclusive license from the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF). The agreement replaces and expands the rights previously obtained through Unity Biotechnology. The protein candidate JN-0413 remains at the preclinical stage, and the company plans to begin a Phase 1 trial in early 2027.

The new agreement gives Jocasta exclusive rights to UCSF intellectual property related to α-Klotho, a protein whose levels decline with age. The license covers the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases and the use of α-Klotho to support cognitive and motor function.

In May 2019, UCSF granted Unity Biotechnology an exclusive license to certain α-Klotho patents and know-how. Under a 2021 agreement, Unity Biotechnology transferred rights to Jocasta through a sublicense, which was issued under Unity’s agreement with UCSF. Jocasta agreed to pay an upfront fee, future milestone payments, and royalties, meaning a share of sales revenue. It also assumed Unity’s payment obligations to UCSF. Unity Biotechnology was legally dissolved on September 26, 2025. Following the current transaction, Jocasta stated that it no longer owes future milestone payments or royalties under its former agreement with Unity.

The decision to pursue α-Klotho is supported by a published body of preclinical research. In a 2023 paper, a team led by neuroscientist Dena Dubal first tested a form of α-Klotho corresponding to the macaque protein in mice. It increased synaptic plasticity, which is the ability of connections between nerve cells to change the strength of their signals, and improved performance on memory tasks. The researchers then administered the protein to rhesus macaques aged 15 to 28 years and assessed memory using a delayed-choice task. A dose of 10 μg per kilogram improved performance. The authors found no statistically significant improvement in the groups that received 20 or 30 μg per kilogram.

The paper describes the academic α-Klotho research program, while JN-0413 is Jocasta’s proprietary formulation and remains at the preclinical stage. Under the new agreement, UCSF is licensing the rights related to α-Klotho directly to the developer.