Tetratherix (ASX: TTX) has launched a new precision medicine franchise built on its Tetramatrix platform polymer alongside an exclusive research and development agreement with US consumer health group Superpower Health.
The agreement will provide immediate revenue through an exclusive licence payment of US$3 million per year for up to 10 years while also supporting the commercial development of nasal drug delivery technologies based on the company’s polymer platform.
Tetratherix will supply its Tetramatrix polymer under the STEPP brand for nasal delivery of longevity and metabolic compounds including glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), along with other peptides and hormones, for the US market.
The new franchise expands the reach of the company’s core technology while complementing existing Tetramatrix applications in bone regeneration, tissue spacing, and tissue healing.
Precision Medicine Franchise
The new precision medicine franchise leverages the same Tetramatrix platform polymer used across its existing regenerative medicine programs and introduces the STEPP carrier system, which uses the Tetramatrix polymer to enable nasal delivery of complex therapeutic compounds.
The agreement creates an immediately revenue-generating pathway that strengthens the company’s cash position while leaving resources for its existing development programs.
Superpower will pay Tetratherix US$3m annually for an exclusive licence for up to 10 years while also purchasing the STEPP polymer for product development.
Tetratherix confirmed all milestones outlined in its prospectus remain on track and the company continues to expect two US Food and Drug Administration approvals in its bone regeneration franchise in mid-calendar year 2026.
Nasal Delivery of Complex Compounds
The STEPP system uses the Tetramatrix polymer as a carrier vehicle that forms a protective and adhesive cushion on the lining of the nasal cavity after administration.
This structure anchors therapeutic compounds in place long enough for them to move into the bloodstream rather than being washed away by natural nasal processes.
This approach also protects delicate molecules such as GLP-1 and peptide therapies from degradation by enzymes within the nasal environment.
By shielding these molecules and allowing controlled release into the bloodstream, the system aims to increase the amount of active compound reaching the body.
Tetratherix believes this method might allow complex biologic therapies to be delivered through a nasal spray rather than injections.
Five Years Of Research
The STEPP technology has been under development for more than five years in collaboration with major research institutions in Australia and the US.
Partners in the research program include the Terasaki Research Institute, Ab-Initio, and the Woolcock Research Institute.
During development the company tested the platform with a range of biological payloads including mRNA, antibiotics, antibodies, proteins, peptides, and growth factors.
This work demonstrated that STEPP can act as a proprietary smart carrier system designed to address stability challenges associated with modern biologic therapies, while also confirming the platform can both stabilise delicate molecules and anchor them within the nasal canal to allow controlled absorption.
Early Commercialisation Pathway
“The establishment of the precision medicine franchise will unlock and accelerate additional opportunities, and the execution of the Superpower agreement significantly expedites revenues from product commercialisation—a great result for the business and its shareholders,” chief executive officer Will Knox said.
“We are shifting the paradigm from complex implant technologies to active, high-velocity delivery systems—ensuring our technology isn't just a part of the future of medicine but the engine that drives it.”
Mr Knox said the partnership also provides strategic alignment with Superpower as the first partner within the precision medicine franchise.
Chief technology officer Ali Fathi said the technology represents the culmination of the company’s “relentless, focused R&D in drug delivery—a journey driven by the conviction that science is only as powerful as its accessibility.”
“We are now poised to transform the lives of millions across the globe,” he added.
