Sixty Degrees Pharmaceuticals Inks Patent License Deal with Yale to Push Tafenoquine for Babesiosis Treatment and Prevention

April 8, 2025

DENVER, Colo., Apr 08, 2025 (247marketnews.com)- 60 Degrees Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:SXTP), a pharmaceutical outfit dedicated to crafting new drugs for infectious diseases, signed a Patent License Agreement with Yale School of Medicine and Yale School of Public Health. The pact aims to team up on developing and commercializing tafenoquine as a treatment and preventive measure for babesiosis.

Tafenoquine isn’t yet greenlit by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for tackling or preventing babesiosis.

Geoff Dow, PhD., CEO of 60 Degrees Pharmaceuticals, stated, “This agreement demonstrates the growing confidence 60 Degrees Pharmaceuticals, Yale School of Medicine, and Yale School of Public Health have in the potential that tafenoquine is now showing as a next-generation therapeutic for babesiosis. Today, a babesiosis patient who progresses past the initial stages of mild symptoms may have limited treatment options. If approved, tafenoquine has the potential to meet this growing unmet need. Tafenoquine also has the potential to become the first prophylaxis available for babesiosis.”

The deal builds on earlier teamwork between researchers at both groups, who’ve been digging into how tafenoquine performs against babesiosis—a nasty tick-borne illness sparked by tiny parasites that attack red blood cells.

Peter James Krause, MD, Senior Research Scientist in Epidemiology (Microbial Diseases), in Medicine (Infectious Diseases) and in Pediatrics (Infectious Disease) and Lecturer in Epidemiology (Microbial Diseases) at Yale University, added, “Relapsing babesiosis occurs in highly immunocompromised patients, is very difficult to treat, and has an estimated mortality rate of 20 percent. There is a critical need to develop new antimicrobials for use in these patients.”

Babesiosis, caused by the Babesia parasite, is a growing infectious threat spread by the bite of the black-legged (deer) tick—the same critter behind Lyme disease. This orphan disease can turn deadly for the elderly or immunocompromised. With up to 10 percent of Lyme patients possibly coinfected with Babesia, that could mean as many as 47,600 of the 476,000 annual new Lyme cases in the U.S. are also battling babesiosis. Medical reports hint that tafenoquine could be a game-changer for patients with stubborn, relapsing cases. The 8-aminoquinoline drug class—including tafenoquine and primaquine—has a solid track record for safety and effectiveness.

60 Degrees Pharmaceuticals is driving a clinical trial (NCT06207370) to test tafenoquine’s safety and efficacy against severe babesiosis in humans. Now underway and recruiting, the study spans several U.S. sites, including Tufts Medical Center, Rhode Island Hospital, Yale University, and Brigham and Women’s Hospital. It’s a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial pitting tafenoquine plus standard care against a placebo plus standard care in hospitalized babesiosis patients. The key goals? Measuring the time to lasting symptom relief and the time to a molecular “all-clear” via an FDA-approved nucleic acid test. The trial aims to enroll 24 to 33 patients before a mid-point check, which will crunch the numbers and decide if more participants are needed.

Tafenoquine already has FDA approval for malaria prevention under the brand ARAKODA®. Its safety for that use has been vetted across five randomized, double-blind trials—some lasting up to six months. That said, it hasn’t been proven effective for babesiosis treatment or prevention and lacks FDA approval for those uses.

About 24/7 Market News
As a pioneer in digital financial market media, 24/7 Market News (24/7MN) is dedicated to the swift distribution of financial market news and information. 24/7 MN incorporates comprehensive corporate communications resources and tools to engage the investment community. Visit 24/7 Market News website here.

24/7 MARKET NEWS, INC Disclaimer
Please go to https://247marketnews.com/disclaimer/ for disclaimer information.

CONTACT:
24/7 Market News
Editor@247marketnews.com

Related news for (SXTP)

NASDAQ and NYSE quotes and data are delayed 15 minutes unless indicated otherwise. Market data and exchange information are provided for informational purposes only and is not intended for trading purposes. Neither 24/7 Market News Editors, 247 Market News, or data and content providers shall be liable for any errors or omissions, delays, misquotes or other market information relayed in any press materials. You should Use Realtime data to conduct due diligence before investing or trading, and trading in any stock is risky you could lose all your money.