60 Degrees Pharmaceuticals Advances Castanospermine Development with Florida State University License
Key Insights
60 Degrees Pharmaceuticals (search) has exercised its license option with Florida State University to develop large-scale purification techniques for castanospermine from Australian Chestnut seeds.
Castanospermine modulates carbohydrate metabolism at low doses and has shown therapeutic potential through immunomodulation in animal models.
The company has completed safety testing and prototype formulations, preparing to seek U.S. regulatory approval for Australian Chestnut Extract as a non-prescription botanical product.
60 Degrees Pharmaceuticals (search), Inc. has exercised its license option with Florida State University to advance the development of castanospermine, a bioactive compound extracted from Australian Chestnut seeds, marking a significant step toward bringing this botanical product to the U.S. non-prescription market.
The company announced on January 28, 2026, that it has moved forward with negotiating an exclusive license to utilize large-scale purification techniques for extracting castanospermine from the seeds of Castanospermum australe, commonly known as the Australian Chestnut, Moreton Bay Chestnut, or Black Bean Tree.
Therapeutic Potential and Mechanism
According to recent scientific literature cited by the company, castanospermine demonstrates distinct dose-dependent effects. At low doses, the compound modulates carbohydrate metabolism, altering glycogen and glucose levels along with other clinical markers. In animal models, higher doses have shown the ability to impact disease outcomes across several therapeutic areas through immunomodulation mechanisms.
The compound's safety profile is supported by its connection to celgosivir, a previously investigated antiviral agent. Castanospermine serves as a metabolite of celgosivir, which underwent clinical evaluation in more than 500 patients for HIV (search) and Hepatitis C (search) indications. Although celgosivir is no longer in commercial development for those specific conditions, the extensive clinical history suggests castanospermine maintains safety at achievable human doses and retains activity against the same pharmacological targets demonstrated in animal studies.
Natural Source and Traditional Use
Castanospermum australe grows primarily in the Australian states of Queensland and New South Wales, with additional cultivation in Florida, Hawaii, and California. The processed seeds of this tree have served as a traditional food source in Australia for thousands of years, providing historical context for human consumption and safety.
Development Progress
Since signing the initial option agreement with Florida State University in April 2025, 60 Degrees Pharmaceuticals (search) has conducted comprehensive safety testing of Australian Chestnut Extract to ensure compliance with relevant regulatory guidance. The company has also developed and tested various prototype capsule formulations designed for oral delivery.
The company now stands ready to commence the regulatory process necessary to secure U.S. market access for Australian Chestnut Extract as a botanical product intended for non-prescription uses.
Company Background
60 Degrees Pharmaceuticals (search), founded in 2010, specializes in developing and commercializing medicines for vector-borne disease treatment and prevention. The company achieved FDA approval for its lead product, ARAKODA (tafenoquine), for malaria (search) prevention in 2018. ARAKODA is currently commercially available in both the United States and Australia.
The Washington, D.C.-based company maintains collaborations with prominent research and academic organizations across the United States and Australia, with a subsidiary operation in Australia supporting its international activities.