Investigational antiviral candidate among a select group of molecules included in University of Georgia submission addressing highly pathogenic avian influenza
BOSTON, May 21, 2025 — Bioxytran, Inc. (OTCQB: BIXT), a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing investigational antiviral treatments and complex carbohydrate-based therapeutics, today announced that the University of Georgia confirmed that PHM23, Bioxytran's investigational antiviral molecule, was included among a select group of drug candidates in the University's grant submission to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) $100 million Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) Poultry Innovation Grand Challenge.
The inclusion of PHM23 represents an important opportunity for the Company's antiviral technology to gain additional visibility within the academic and poultry health communities. The submission is focused on addressing HPAI, commonly known as Bird Flu, including H5N1, one of the significant challenges facing the poultry industry.
The University of Georgia is recognized as a leader in poultry health, and the selection of PHM23 places the molecule among a limited number of antiviral candidates being considered as part of the University's submission.
PHM23 is an investigational antiviral molecule based on Bioxytran's galectin antagonist technology and complex carbohydrate-based approach to antiviral development.
The Company's research focuses on galectins, proteins involved in biological processes associated with viral infection, including interactions between viral particles and host cells.
PHM23 has demonstrated antiviral effectiveness against viruses similar to Bird Flu in in vitro studies, supporting continued investigation of the molecule's potential broad-spectrum activity.
The inclusion of PHM23 in the University of Georgia's HPAI submission provides an opportunity to further evaluate the molecule in the context of highly pathogenic avian influenza and other viral threats.
The University of Georgia included PHM23 among a handful of molecules selected for its submission to the USDA's HPAI Poultry Innovation Grand Challenge.
The initiative, which offers up to $100 million in funding, is intended to support innovative approaches to addressing highly pathogenic avian influenza and its impact on the U.S. poultry industry.
For Bioxytran, participation in the University's submission increases awareness of PHM23 and its underlying antiviral technology at the university level.
The Company believes this recognition may create additional opportunities to collaborate with academic researchers and other stakeholders focused on developing new approaches to controlling Bird Flu.
Bioxytran's research into PHM23 is based on a mechanism that the Company believes may have relevance across multiple viral threats.
By targeting galectins and related interactions involved in viral infection, PHM23 is being investigated as an antiviral approach that is not limited to a single virus.
In vitro research has demonstrated effectiveness against viruses similar to Bird Flu, providing a basis for continued investigation of PHM23's potential broad-spectrum antiviral activity.
The Company believes the growing focus on H5N1 and other avian influenza viruses provides an important opportunity to increase awareness of this research and evaluate whether the technology could have broader applications.
Bioxytran's galectin antagonist technology, as embodied in PHM23, is designed to interfere with the interaction between viral particles and host cells.
The Company's research describes the approach as targeting mechanisms involved in viral attachment, including interactions associated with viral spike proteins and host-cell receptors.
Because aspects of these attachment mechanisms are conserved across mammals, Bioxytran believes this approach may offer potential advantages when investigating antiviral activity across different viral pathogens.
The Company's research is focused on determining whether interfering with these early interactions can provide a broad-spectrum antiviral strategy.
Highly pathogenic avian influenza, including H5N1, continues to represent a major challenge for poultry health and the agricultural industry.
Bioxytran's inclusion in the University of Georgia's HPAI submission creates an opportunity to investigate PHM23 in the context of this urgent animal health challenge.
The Company's objective is to advance research into whether PHM23's antiviral mechanism could be relevant to HPAI and potentially provide an additional tool for addressing viral outbreaks.
At this stage, PHM23 remains an investigational molecule. Additional research would be required to establish its activity, safety, efficacy, and potential application against H5N1 or other avian influenza viruses.
The USDA's HPAI Poultry Innovation Grand Challenge is intended to support technologies that could help curb the spread of Bird Flu, protect U.S. poultry producers, and strengthen food security.
HPAI outbreaks can have significant consequences for poultry populations and the broader agricultural supply chain.
Bioxytran believes that antiviral technologies such as PHM23 could potentially contribute to future strategies for managing viral disease in poultry.
The Company's participation in the University's submission represents an opportunity to further investigate this potential while working with academic, industry, and government stakeholders.
Bioxytran is actively seeking partnerships with academic institutions, industry organizations, and government stakeholders to advance PHM23 and its broader antiviral technology.
The University of Georgia's selection of PHM23 provides an opportunity to expand awareness of the Company's galectin antagonist platform and its potential applications.
Collaboration with organizations involved in poultry health and infectious disease research may also provide additional opportunities to evaluate the molecule against viral threats and further characterize its broad-spectrum antiviral activity.
The development of PHM23 reflects Bioxytran's broader focus on using complex carbohydrate chemistry to investigate new approaches to antiviral drug development.
Carbohydrate-protein interactions are involved in numerous biological processes, including cellular recognition and interactions between pathogens and host cells.
Bioxytran's galectin antagonist platform is designed to investigate whether these interactions can be leveraged to interfere with viral infection.
The Company's research across multiple viral systems is intended to determine whether this approach can support the development of antiviral candidates with activity beyond a single viral target.
Following its inclusion in the University of Georgia's HPAI grant submission, Bioxytran will continue seeking opportunities to advance research involving PHM23 and its galectin antagonist technology.
The Company will also continue pursuing potential collaborations with academic, industry, and government organizations interested in addressing HPAI and other viral diseases.
Further laboratory and development studies will be necessary to establish the potential safety, efficacy, and applicability of PHM23 for Bird Flu or other viral infections.
Bioxytran, Inc. is a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing investigational complex carbohydrate-based therapeutics to address significant unmet medical needs. The Company's research platforms include virology, cancer metastasis, and oxygen transport.
Bioxytran's antiviral research includes PHM23 and ProLectin-M, investigational carbohydrate-based candidates being studied for their potential antiviral activity. The Company is also advancing programs involving pulmonary fibrosis, stroke, and oxygen transport, including BXT-25.
For more information, visit www.bioxytraninc.com.
This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities laws, including statements concerning PHM23, its potential broad-spectrum antiviral activity, potential applications against highly pathogenic avian influenza, future research, collaborations, development activities, and the potential therapeutic or agricultural applications of Bioxytran's technologies. These statements are based on current expectations and are subject to risks, assumptions, and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied.
Factors that may affect future results include laboratory and development outcomes, regulatory decisions, funding availability, development timelines, manufacturing considerations, strategic partnerships, and other risks described in Bioxytran's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Inclusion of PHM23 in a grant submission does not constitute regulatory approval or establish the safety or efficacy of the molecule for the treatment or prevention of HPAI. Bioxytran undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements except as required under applicable law.
Bioxytran, Inc.
Website: www.bioxytraninc.com
Investor Contact:
Michael Sheikh
509-991-0245
mike.sheikh@bioxytraninc.com
