eXoZymes receives $2M NIH grant for cannabinoid analog research

eXoZymes Inc. (NASDAQ: EXOZ) has received a Notice of Award from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS) of the National Institutes of Health for a Phase IIB Small Business Innovation Research grant totaling $2,028,518, according to a company statement.

The grant, titled SimplePath IIB: Pre-clinical Development of Cannabinoid Analogs, is structured across two budget periods: $1,034,289 for the first year and $994,229 for the second, subject to continued progress and funding availability. Work is expected to begin July 1, 2026.

Under the program, eXoZymes will pursue three objectives: developing expression systems for cannabinoid cyclase enzymes, expanding the range of analogs the company can produce, and conducting preclinical evaluation of its existing cannabinoid library using receptor-binding assays.

Co-founder and Chief Scientific Officer Tyler Korman, who will serve as Principal Investigator, said the company's goal is to develop enzyme-based manufacturing technologies to produce rare and novel plant-derived cannabinoids at pharmaceutical grade. The program includes a sub-award to the laboratory of Dr. Vikram Shende at Occidental College.

The award brings total non-dilutive funding received by eXoZymes and its predecessor programs to $19.7 million. The company said the cannabinoid grant represents a second biosolution in its pipeline, alongside its NCT program.

CEO Michael Heltzen said the award demonstrates that the company's cell-free platform can add new biosolutions to its pipeline without diluting shareholders, citing potential future licensing and partnering opportunities.

eXoZymes, founded in 2019, uses a cell-free biomanufacturing platform with AI-enhanced enzymes to produce natural products and analogs for nutraceutical and pharmaceutical markets.

You May Also Be Interested In

• Alphabet Sees FY26 Capex $195B To $205B, Saw $180B To $190B
• Netflix raises $1 billion in senior notes due 2036
• Shutterstock's chief accounting officer to resign in August