WASHINGTON, July 8, 2026
60 Degrees Pharmaceuticals announced that it has entered into an exclusive option agreement with the Florida State University Research Foundation (FSURF) to advance the therapeutic development of castanospermine for multiple tick-borne diseases. The agreement grants the company an exclusive option to negotiate a U.S. exclusive license covering patented technology and associated know-how for the use of castanospermine in treating Powassan virus disease, tick-borne encephalitis, alpha-gal syndrome, and post-treatment Lyme disease. The collaboration provides an evaluation period during which the company will develop its commercialization strategy and clinical development plan before exercising the licensing option. The agreement expands 60 Degrees Pharmaceuticals’ growing portfolio of therapies targeting vector-borne infectious diseases and complements the company’s ongoing development of tafenoquine for babesiosis, reinforcing its long-term strategy of addressing emerging infectious diseases with significant unmet medical need.
Castanospermine Offers Broad Antiviral and Immunomodulatory Potential
Castanospermine is a naturally occurring iminosugar isolated from the Australian Chestnut (Castanospermum australe) and has demonstrated broad-spectrum antiviral and immunomodulatory activity in preclinical studies. The compound also benefits from an established body of human safety data through clinical studies involving celgosivir, an orally administered prodrug that is almost completely converted into castanospermine after administration. According to 60 Degrees Pharmaceuticals, these characteristics provide a strong scientific foundation for evaluating the compound across several serious tick-borne diseases, many of which currently have limited treatment options. By targeting viral replication and immune system pathways, castanospermine has the potential to become a novel therapeutic candidate for both infectious and immune-mediated complications associated with tick-borne illnesses.
Company Prioritizes Prescription Drug Development Strategy
Chief Executive Officer Geoff Dow stated that the agreement reflects the company’s belief that castanospermine may ultimately deliver its greatest value as the basis for innovative prescription medicines rather than as a dietary supplement. The company recently held discussions with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regarding its New Dietary Ingredient Notification for Australian Chestnut Extract, but following regulatory feedback, management is reassessing that pathway while prioritizing prescription drug development opportunities that could provide greater clinical impact and commercial value. The exclusive option agreement offers flexibility to refine development strategies while leveraging the company’s established expertise in vector-borne infectious diseases and collaborations with leading academic research institutions in the United States and Australia.
Advertisement
Licensing Agreement Strengthens Long-Term Infectious Disease Pipeline
Founded in 2010, 60 Degrees Pharmaceuticals focuses on developing therapies for the prevention and treatment of vector-borne diseases, including malaria, babesiosis, and emerging tick-borne infections. The company previously achieved FDA approval for ARAKODA® (tafenoquine) for malaria prevention in 2018, with the product currently marketed in both the United States and Australia. The addition of castanospermine expands the company’s infectious disease pipeline into several underserved therapeutic areas, including Powassan virus disease, tick-borne encephalitis, alpha-gal syndrome, and post-treatment Lyme disease, where effective therapies remain limited. If the licensing agreement is finalized and clinical development progresses successfully, castanospermine could become an important addition to the company’s portfolio of novel therapies designed to address the growing global burden of vector-borne infectious diseases.
Source: 60 Degrees Pharmaceuticals press release
