60 Degrees Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: SXTP; SXTPW) (the
“Company”), a pharmaceutical company focused on developing
new medicines for infectious diseases, announced today the
approval of an Investigational Review Board (IRB) sanctioned
Phase II clinical study. The study
(NCT06656351) will evaluate the efficacy and safety of the ARAKODA®
regimen (
tafenoquine) over 90 days for treating
patients with a presumptive diagnosis of chronic babesiosis.
Participants will have experienced significant functional
impairment for at least six months. Patient enrollment is expected
to begin in Q3 2025.
“As babesiosis continues to emerge in new regions of the U.S.,
the need to address its impact safely and effectively is also
growing,” said 60 Degrees Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Chief Executive
Officer, Geoff Dow, PhD. “The chronic phase of babesiosis
particularly may prove to be one of the most important areas of
study due to the estimated large size of the patient population,
the severity and duration of symptoms, and the absence of any
approved treatment option available today.”
The Company estimates the total cumulative addressable market
through the end of U.S. patent protection in December
2035 for ARAKODA (tafenoquine) for babesiosis
exceeds 400,000 patients.
About BabesiosisBabesiosis is a tick-borne
illness caused by Babesia parasites that develop and multiply in
red blood cells. Its symptoms include fevers, chills, sweats, and
fatigue, and in severe cases, can be life-threatening threatening
in elderly and immunosuppressed patients. Incidence of the disease
is rapidly rising, particularly in the Northeast. Transmitted
through the bite of the black-legged (deer) tick, the vector that
spreads Lyme disease, babesiosis is an orphan disease. Babesia
infection may persist for at least a year; fatigue is usually the
symptom of infection that takes longest to resolve and may be
debilitating over the long term in some patients.
About ARAKODA®
(tafenoquine)Tafenoquine is approved for
malaria prophylaxis in the United States under the product
name ARAKODA®. The safety of the approved regimen of
tafenoquine for malaria prophylaxis has been
assessed in five separate randomized, double-blind, active
comparator or placebo-controlled trials for durations of up to six
months. Tafenoquine has not been proven to be
effective for treatment or prevention of babesiosis and is not
approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration for such
an indication.
Tafenoquine was discovered by Walter
Reed Army Institute of Research and the current study was
funded by the United States Army Medical & Materiel
Development Activity. Tafenoquine was
approved for malaria prophylaxis in 2018 in the United
States as ARAKODA® and in Australia as
KODATEF®. Both were commercially launched in 2019 and are currently
distributed through pharmaceutical wholesaler networks in each
respective country. They are available at retail pharmacies as a
prescription-only malaria prevention drug.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention, the long terminal
half-life of tafenoquine, which is
approximately 16 days, may offer potential advantages in
less-frequent dosing for prophylaxis for
malaria. ARAKODA® is not suitable for everyone,
and patients and prescribers should review the Important
Safety Information below. Individuals at risk of contracting
malaria are prescribed ARAKODA® 2 x 100 mg tablets once per day for
three days (the loading phase) prior to travel to an area of the
world where malaria is endemic, 2 x 100 mg tablets weekly for up to
six months during travel, then 2 x 100 mg in the week following
travel.
ARAKODA® (tafenoquine) Important Safety
Information
ARAKODA® is an antimalarial indicated for the prophylaxis of
malaria in patients aged 18 years of age and older.
Contraindications
ARAKODA® should not be administered to:
- Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (“G6PD”) deficiency or
unknown G6PD status;
- Breastfeeding by a lactating woman when the infant is found to
be G6PD deficient or if G6PD status is unknown;
- Patients with a history of psychotic disorders or current
psychotic symptoms; or
- Known hypersensitivity reactions to
tafenoquine, other 8-aminoquinolines, or any
component of ARAKODA®.
Warnings and Precautions
Hemolytic Anemia: G6PD testing must be
performed before prescribing ARAKODA® due to the risk of
hemolytic anemia. Monitor patients for signs or symptoms of
hemolysis.
G6PD Deficiency in Pregnancy or Lactation:
ARAKODA® may cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant
woman with a G6PD-deficient fetus. ARAKODA® is not recommended
during pregnancy. A G6PD-deficient infant may be at risk for
hemolytic anemia from exposure to ARAKODA® through breast
milk. Check infant’s G6PD status before breastfeeding
begins.
Methemoglobinemia: Asymptomatic elevations in
blood methemoglobin have been observed. Initiate appropriate
therapy if signs or symptoms of methemoglobinemia occur.
Psychiatric Effects: Serious psychotic adverse
reactions have been observed in patients with a history of
psychosis or schizophrenia, at doses different from the approved
dose. If psychotic symptoms (hallucinations, delusions, or
grossly disorganized thinking or behavior) occur, consider
discontinuation of ARAKODA® therapy and evaluation by a mental
health professional as soon as possible.
Hypersensitivity Reactions: Serious
hypersensitivity reactions have been observed
with administration of ARAKODA®. If hypersensitivity reactions
occur, institute appropriate therapy.
Delayed Adverse Reactions: Due to the long
half-life of ARAKODA® (approximately 16 days), psychiatric
effects, hemolytic anemia, methemoglobinemia, and hypersensitivity
reactions may be delayed in onset and/or duration.
Adverse Reactions: The most common adverse
reactions (incidence greater than or equal to 1 percent) were:
headache, dizziness, back pain, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting,
increased alanine aminotransferase, motion sickness, insomnia,
depression, abnormal dreams, and anxiety.
Drug Interactions
Avoid co-administration with drugs that are substrates of
organic cation transporter-2 or multidrug and toxin extrusion
transporters.
Use in Specific Populations
Lactation: Advise women not to breastfeed a G6PD-deficient
infant or infant with unknown G6PD status during treatment and for
3 months after the last dose of ARAKODA®.
To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact 60 Degrees
Pharmaceuticals, Inc. at 1-888-834-0225 or the FDA at
1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch. The full
prescribing information of ARAKODA® is located here.
About 60 Degrees Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
60 Degrees Pharmaceuticals, Inc., founded in 2010, specializes
in developing and marketing new medicines for the treatment
and prevention of infectious diseases that affect the lives
of millions of people. 60 Degrees Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
achieved FDA approval of its lead product, ARAKODA®
(tafenoquine), for malaria prevention, in 2018. 60
Degrees Pharmaceuticals, Inc. also collaborates with prominent
research organizations in the U.S., Australia, and Singapore. The
60 Degrees Pharmaceuticals, Inc. mission has been supported through
in-kind funding from the U.S. Department of Defense and private
institutional investors including Knight Therapeutics Inc., a
Canadian-based pan-American specialty pharmaceutical company. 60
Degrees Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is headquartered in Washington D.C.,
with a majority-owned subsidiary in Australia. Learn more at
www.60degreespharma.com. The statements contained herein may
include prospects, statements of future expectations and other
forward-looking statements that are based on management’s current
views and assumptions and involve known and unknown risks and
uncertainties. Actual results, performance or events may differ
materially from those expressed or implied in such forward-looking
statements.
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking
Statements
This press release may contain “forward-looking statements”
within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the U.S.
Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.
Forward‐looking statements reflect the current view about
future events. When used in this press release, the words
“anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “expect,” “future,” “intend,”
“plan,” or the negative of these terms and similar
expressions, as they relate to us or our management,
identify forward‐looking statements. Forward-looking
statements are neither historical facts nor assurances of
future performance. Instead, they are based only on our current
beliefs, expectations and assumptions regarding the
future of our business, future plans and strategies,
projections, anticipated events and trends, the economy, activities
of regulators and future regulations and other future
conditions. Because forward-looking statements relate to the
future, they are subject to inherent uncertainties, risks and
changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict and
many of which are outside of our control. Our actual results
and financial condition may differ materially from those
indicated in the forward-looking statements. Therefore, you
should not rely on any of these forward-looking
statements. Important factors that could cause our actual
results and financial condition to differ materially from
those indicated in the forward-looking statements include, among
others, the following: there is substantial doubt as to our
ability to continue on a going-concern basis; we might not be
eligible for Australian government research and development tax
rebates; if we are not able to successfully develop, obtain
FDA approval for, and provide for the commercialization of
non-malaria prevention indications for tafenoquine
(ARAKODA® or other regimen) or Celgosivir in a timely manner,
we may not be able to expand our business operations; we may not be
able to successfully conduct planned clinical trials or
patient recruitment in our trials might be slow or negligible;
and we have no manufacturing capacity which puts us at risk of
lengthy and costly delays of bringing our products to
market. More detailed information about the Company
and the risk factors that may affect the realization of
forward- looking statements is set forth in the Company’s
filings with the Securities and Exchange
Commission (“SEC”), including the information contained
in our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on April 1,
2024, and our subsequent SEC filings. Investors and security
holders are urged to read these documents free of charge on the
SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. As a result of these
matters, changes in facts, assumptions not being realized or
other circumstances, the Company’s actual results may differ
materially from the expected results discussed in the
forward-looking statements contained in this press release.
Any forward-looking statement made by us in this press release
is based only on information currently available to us and speaks
only as of the date on which it is made. We undertake no
obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement,
whether written or oral, that may be made from time to time,
whether as a result of new information, future developments or
otherwise.
Media Contact:Sheila A.
BurkeSheilaBurke-consultant@60degreespharma.com(484) 667-6330
Investor Contact:Patrick
Gaynespatrickgaynes@60degreespharma.com(310) 989-5666
60 Degrees Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:SXTPW)
Historical Stock Chart
Von Dez 2024 bis Jan 2025
60 Degrees Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:SXTPW)
Historical Stock Chart
Von Jan 2024 bis Jan 2025