60 Degrees Pharmaceuticals Exercises License Option with Florida State University for Large-Scale Purification of Castanospermine for Non-Rx Use
Company ready to commence regulatory process to secure access to U.S. market for Australian Chestnut Extract as a botanical product for non-prescription uses
WASHINGTON, Jan. 28, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- (NASDAQ: SXTP; SXTPW) (“60 Degrees Pharma” or the “Company”), a pharmaceutical company focused on developing new medicines for vector-borne disease, today announced it has exercised the option in its agreement with Florida State University (FSU) to negotiate an exclusive license to use large-scale purification techniques to extract castanospermine from the seeds of Castanospermum australe (commonly known as the Australian Chestnut, the Moreton Bay Chestnut, and the Black Bean Tree).
Castanospermum australe grows primarily in the Australian states of Queensland and New South Wales, but also in Florida, Hawaii, and California. The processed seeds of Castanospermum australe have historically been a traditional food source in Australia for thousands of years.
According to recent scientific literature, at low doses, castanospermine modulates carbohydrate metabolism, altering glycogen, glucose levels, and other clinical markers. In animal models, high doses have been shown to impact disease outcomes in several therapeutic areas, through immunomodulation.
Castanospermine is also a metabolite of celgosivir, a product that has been evaluated in clinical trials in more than 500 patients against HIV and Hepatitis C. Although celgosivir is no longer in commercial development for those indications, that study history suggests castanospermine is safe at achievable doses in humans and is active against the same pharmacological targets as in animal studies.
Since signing its option agreement with FSU in April 2025, the Company has subjected Australian Chestnut Extract to safety testing to ensure compliance with relevant regulatory guidance and has developed and tested various prototype capsule formulations for oral delivery. The Company is now ready to commence a regulatory process to secure access to the U.S. market for Australian Chestnut Extract as a botanical product for non-prescription uses.
About 60 Degrees Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
60 Degrees Pharmaceuticals, Inc., founded in 2010, specializes in developing and commercializing new medicines for the treatment and prevention of vector-borne disease. The Company achieved U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval of its lead product, ARAKODA® (tafenoquine) for malaria prevention, in 2018. ARAKODA is commercially available in the U.S. and Australia. 60 Degrees Pharmaceuticals, Inc. also collaborates with prominent research and academic organizations in the U.S. and Australia. 60 Degrees Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is headquartered in Washington, D.C., with a subsidiary in Australia. Learn more at .
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