FSU and 60 Degrees Pharmaceuticals announce option agreement to accelerate health product development

Florida State University and 60 Degrees Pharmaceuticals have signed an agreement to give the biotech company access to the university’s patented work on a compound being explored for its beneficial anti-viral and anti-inflammatory properties.

“FSU researchers are producing work that has real-world impact in a variety of fields, including human health,” said Associate Vice President for Strategic Partnerships and Initiatives Valerie McDevitt. “We are excited to expand our collaboration with 60 Degrees Pharmaceuticals to bring FSU technologies to the public.”

60 Degrees Pharmaceuticals, a company that focuses on developing and commercializing medicines for infectious diseases, has optioned the university’s work on extracts of Moreton Bay chestnut trees. FSU Professor of Medicine Gary K. Ostrander and FSU Assistant Vice President for Research Eric Holmes have developed a number of patents around the compound Castanospermine including a large-scale process to purify the compound, an essential method to ensure safety and effectiveness.

Castanospermine is an organic compound extracted from the seeds of a Moreton Bay chestnut tree, which is indigenous to Australia. Research has shown that it often inhibits enzymes that play a crucial role in processing sugars and attaching proteins to the cellular membrane. It also has shown promise in inhibiting the replication of several viruses.

Geoff Dow, CEO of 60 Degrees Pharmaceuticals, said the company plans to spend the next six to 12 months evaluating whether Castanospermine can be used to create a commercially available botanical extract or dietary supplement.

“Castanospermine alkaloids and derivatives have been well studied in both clinical and non-clinical studies, and we believe there is a lot of potential to get a product to market quickly that would be beneficial to human health,” Dow said.

Holmes and Ostrander are equally excited about the potential uses of the compound.

“We’ve seen how much potential the compound has and offers us promising avenues for a variety of conditions,” Ostrander said. “The ongoing research continues to uncover its multifaceted benefits, making it a really intriguing candidate for future therapeutics and other health products.”

Echoed Holmes: “Castanospermine is a potent natural compound, and its unique structural properties really open up a plethora of possibilities scientifically.”

For more information on FSU tech transfer efforts, please visit the FSU Commercialization website.

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