N2OFF: MitoCareX Bio Spotlights Co-Founder's Pioneering Research on Mitochondrial Carriers in Spaceflight Stress Conditions

Rhea-AI Summary

N2OFF (NASDAQ: NITO) highlighted a peer‑reviewed study co‑authored by Prof. Ciro Leonardo Pierri on SLC25A mitochondrial carriers as biomarkers and therapeutic targets for spaceflight‑induced dysfunction. Published online Dec 30, 2025 (DOI: 10.1186/s12967-025-07505-z), the study analyzed expression of 53 SLC25A genes across osteocytes, hBMSCs, and mouse brain exposed to microgravity and space stressors, and used AAC3 (ADP/ATP carrier) as a structural case study. The research aligns with MitoCareX Bio's focus and its MITOLINE™ computational platform for screening small‑molecule modulators of SLC25A carriers.

News Market Reaction – NITO

+5.42% 55.9x vol

17 alerts

+5.42% News Effect

+39.9% Peak Tracked

-11.4% Trough Tracked

+$249K Valuation Impact

$5M Market Cap

55.9x Rel. Volume

On the day this news was published, NITO gained 5.42%, reflecting a notable positive market reaction. Argus tracked a peak move of +39.9% during that session. Argus tracked a trough of -11.4% from its starting point during tracking. Our momentum scanner triggered 17 alerts that day, indicating notable trading interest and price volatility. This price movement added approximately $249K to the company's valuation, bringing the market cap to $5M at that time. Trading volume was exceptionally heavy at 55.9x the daily average, suggesting very strong buying interest.

Data tracked by StockTitan Argus on the day of publication.

Key Figures

SLC25A genes analyzed: 53 genes Tissue types studied: 3 tissue types Save Foods ownership: Approximately 98% +5 more

8 metrics

SLC25A genes analyzed 53 genes Transcriptomic analysis under spaceflight-related stressors

Tissue types studied 3 tissue types Osteocytes, hBMSCs, and mouse brain tissue

Save Foods ownership Approximately 98% Controlling stake in Save Foods Ltd.

Solar projects 4 projects Lead investor across three EU countries

Net loss YTD $5.4 million Nine months ended September 30, 2025 (Q3 2025 10-Q)

Cash balance $6.0 million As of September 30, 2025 (Q3 2025 10-Q)

Market capitalization $4,259,226 Pre-news market value at latest close

Reverse stock split 1-for-35 Effective September 22, 2025

Market Reality Check

Price: $1.22 Vol: Volume 23,889 vs 20-day a...

normal vol

$1.22 Last Close

Volume Volume 23,889 vs 20-day avg 29,024 (relative volume 0.82x) suggests only modest participation in the move. normal

Technical Shares at $1.66 are trading well below the 200-day MA of $6.60, highlighting a longer-term downtrend despite today’s bounce.

Peers on Argus

NITO rose 5.73% while sector peers were mixed: SEED +6.25%, SANW -37.55%, BIOX +...

1 Down

NITO rose 5.73% while sector peers were mixed: SEED +6.25%, SANW -37.55%, BIOX +0.82%, AVD +4.68%, indicating a company-specific reaction to the mitochondrial research news rather than a broad agricultural chemicals move.

Historical Context

5 past events · Latest: Jan 05 (Positive)

Pattern 5 events

Date	Event	Sentiment	Move	Catalyst
Jan 05	Solar project terms	Positive	+0.0%	Improved economics and profit stake in flagship European solar project.
Dec 29	Renewable de-risking	Positive	-19.4%	De-risking and value unlock in German and Italian renewable projects.
Nov 18	MitoCareX pipeline	Positive	+0.7%	Hit compounds identified and plans for preclinical candidate nomination.
Oct 30	MitoCareX merger	Positive	-0.9%	Completion of merger and detailed consideration structure for MitoCareX.
Oct 23	Merger closing PR	Positive	+6.8%	Announcement of closing merger with cancer drug discovery company.

Pattern Detected

News tied to strategic shifts or MitoCareX has produced mixed reactions, including a sharp selloff on positive de‑risking solar updates and stronger moves on acquisition-related headlines.

Recent Company History

Over the past few months, N2OFF has pivoted around two pillars: renewable energy and oncology drug discovery. Renewable energy updates on Dec 29, 2025 and Jan 5, 2026 highlighted value unlocks and improved project economics, yet one triggered a -19.37% drop. In contrast, MitoCareX-related milestones, including acquisition closings in late October 2025 and hit compound identification on Nov 18, 2025, saw modestly positive or mixed price reactions. Today’s spotlight on foundational mitochondrial carrier research fits the ongoing effort to underscore the MitoCareX oncology story alongside the energy portfolio.

Market Pulse Summary

The stock moved +5.4% in the session following this news. A strong positive reaction aligns with N2O...

Analysis

The stock moved +5.4% in the session following this news. A strong positive reaction aligns with N2OFF’s effort to highlight the scientific backbone of its MitoCareX acquisition. The move came from a low base, with shares at $1.66, far below the $6.60 200-day MA and the $53.55 52-week high, underscoring ongoing longer-term pressure. Past news has produced mixed follow-through, including a -19.37% reaction to positive solar de-risking, so investors have historically re-rated the story unevenly after catalysts.

Key Terms

microgravity, cosmic radiation, transcriptomic, osteocytes, +4 more

8 terms

microgravity medical

"spaceflight conditions, including microgravity and cosmic radiation"

Microgravity is a condition where objects experience almost no net weight because they are in continuous free-fall, such as aboard orbiting spacecraft; think of passengers feeling weightless in a smoothly falling elevator. For investors, microgravity matters because it enables scientific experiments and manufacturing processes that behave very differently than on Earth, potentially creating novel drugs, materials, or technologies, changing development timelines, costs, market opportunities and regulatory considerations.

cosmic radiation medical

"spaceflight conditions, including microgravity and cosmic radiation"

High-energy particles and rays from space that strike Earth’s atmosphere and can penetrate aircraft, spacecraft, electronic equipment and human tissue. For investors, cosmic radiation matters because it can damage satellites and sensitive electronics, increase maintenance or liability costs for airlines and space firms, and create regulatory or health-related risks that affect revenue and capital spending—much like rust slowly wearing down metal infrastructure.

transcriptomic medical

"The work integrates transcriptomic data from NASA's Open Science"

Transcriptomic describes anything related to the transcriptome — the complete set of RNA messages a cell or tissue makes at a given time, which shows which genes are actively being used. Think of it like a snapshot of which recipes are being cooked in a kitchen; for investors, transcriptomic data matters because it helps identify drug targets, predict treatment response, and validate whether a therapy is affecting biology as intended, all of which can change a company’s development prospects and valuation.

osteocytes medical

"expression of 53 SLC25A genes in osteocytes, human bone marrow"

Osteocytes are the most common cells inside bone, embedded like maintenance workers within the hard tissue; they sense stress or damage and send signals that tell the bone to repair, strengthen, or thin. Investors track osteocytes because many diagnostics and drugs for osteoporosis, fracture healing and other bone conditions work by changing those signals, so understanding osteocyte biology helps predict clinical trial outcomes, regulatory decisions and market demand for related therapies.

mesenchymal stem cells medical

"human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hBMSCs), and mouse"

Mesenchymal stem cells are adult cells that can develop into bone, cartilage, fat and other connective tissues and act like a versatile repair crew in the body. Investors watch them because they are the basis for many experimental therapies and regenerative medicines: successful clinical results could create large markets, while manufacturing complexity, safety concerns and regulatory hurdles make development costly and risky.

bioenergetics medical

"targeted to rescue mitochondrial bioenergetics under stress"

Bioenergetics is the study of how living cells generate, store and use energy—think of cells as tiny engines or batteries that power all biological functions. For investors, it matters because therapies, diagnostics or products that change how cells manage energy can create new markets or disrupt existing ones, affecting a company’s revenue potential, development costs and regulatory risks in sectors like biotech, pharmaceuticals and agriculture.

precision oncology medical

"science driving MitoCareX Bio's precision oncology pipeline"

Precision oncology uses detailed biological information from a patient’s tumor—like genetic changes or specific markers—to choose treatments most likely to work for that individual, much like tailoring a suit to a person’s measurements instead of selling one-size-fits-all clothing. It matters to investors because these targeted approaches can improve treatment success, support premium pricing and companion diagnostic tests, and shorten development and approval timelines, creating focused markets with both higher potential returns and specialized risks.

reverse stock split financial

"The company effected a 1-for-35 reverse stock split on September"

A reverse stock split is when a company reduces the number of its shares outstanding, making each share more valuable. For example, if you own 100 shares worth $1 each, a 1-for-10 reverse split would turn your 100 shares into 10 shares worth $10 each. Companies often do this to boost their stock price and appear more stable to investors.

AI-generated analysis. Not financial advice.

Neve Yarak, Israel, Jan. 15, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- N2OFF, Inc. (NASDAQ: NITO) (“N2OFF” and the “Company”), a drug discovery company that is also investing in solar energy assets based on the RTB (Ready to Build) business model, today highlighted a newly published peer-reviewed study co-authored by Prof. Ciro Leonardo Pierri, co-founder of MitoCareX Bio Ltd. (“MitoCareX Bio”), N2OFF’s wholly-owned subsidiary. The article, appearing in the Journal of Translational Medicine, investigates SLC25A mitochondrial carriers as potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets for dysfunctions induced by spaceflight conditions, including microgravity and cosmic radiation.

The study, titled “SLC25A mitochondrial carriers as biomarkers and therapeutic targets of spaceflight-induced dysfunction: the ADP/ATP carrier (AAC3) as a structural case study,” was published online on December 30, 2025 (DOI: 10.1186/s12967-025-07505-z). The work integrates transcriptomic data from NASA's Open Science Data Repository (OSDR), examining the expression of 53 SLC25A genes in osteocytes, human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hBMSCs), and mouse brain tissue exposed to microgravity and spaceflight-related stressors.

The analysis identified differential regulation of multiple SLC25A carriers under spaceflight conditions, supporting their potential utility as biomarkers of mitochondrial and metabolic dysfunction.

The ADP/ATP carrier AAC3 was further examined as a structural case study, based on comparative modeling and structure–function analyses to illustrate how carrier conformational features may be targeted to rescue mitochondrial bioenergetics under stress.

While this independent academic research—conducted in collaboration with the University of Bari “Aldo Moro” and the University of Pittsburgh—was not performed under MitoCareX Bio's auspices, it directly aligns with the Company's core scientific focus on mitochondrial carrier biology. MitoCareX Bio applies proprietary computational approaches, including the MITOLINE^™ algorithm, to model and virtually screen small-molecule modulators targeting the SLC25A family of mitochondrial carriers. These proteins, central to cellular energy metabolism, play critical roles in tumor metabolic adaptation and therapy resistance in hard-to-treat cancers, such as pancreatic and non-small cell lung cancer, and are also implicated in rare inherited disorders associated with neuromuscular degeneration, which share mechanistic similarities with physiologicl alterations observed in astronauts.

Prof. Ciro Leonardo Pierri's expertise in structural biology, mitochondrial carrier modeling, and drug targeting—demonstrated through his contributions to this and other related publications—underpins the foundational science driving MitoCareX Bio's precision oncology pipeline.

The full article is available open access at: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12967-025-07505-z.

About N2OFF Inc:

N2OFF owns 100% of MitoCareX Bio Ltd, a drug delivery company engaged in drug discovery targeting cancer therapeutics and other diseases through the mitochondrial SLC25 protein family. Additionally, N2OFF adopted an investment strategy focused on European renewable energy assets utilizing a RTB (Ready to Build ) business model. The Company is currently the lead investor in four solar projects across three European Union countries, all introduced by Solterra Renewable Energy Ltd., a wholly owned subsidiary of Solterra Energy Ltd

N2OFF also controls approximately 98% of Save Foods Ltd., an Israeli company focused on post-harvest treatment technologies designed to reduce pathogen contamination in fruits and vegetables.

For more information, please visit www.n2off.com.

Forward-looking Statements:

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the “safe harbor” provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and other Federal securities laws. Words such as “expects,” “anticipates,” “intends,” “plans,” “believes,” “seeks,” “estimates” and similar expressions or variations of such words are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements in this communication may include, among other things, statements about N2OFF’s strategic and business plans, technology, relationships, objectives and expectations for its business, the impact of trends on and interest in its business, intellectual property or products and its future results, operations and financial performance and condition. Because such statements deal with future events and are based on our current expectations, they are subject to various risks and uncertainties. Actual results, performance or achievements could differ materially from those described in or implied by the statements in this press release. The forward-looking statements contained or implied in this press release are subject to other risks and uncertainties, including market conditions as well as those discussed under the heading “Risk Factors” in N2OFF’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on March 31, 2025, and in any subsequent filings with the SEC. Except as otherwise required by law, we undertake no obligation to publicly release any revisions to these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. References and links to websites have been provided as a convenience, and the information contained on such websites is not incorporated by reference into this press release. We are not responsible for the contents of third-party websites.

Investor Relations Contact:
Michal Efraty
michal@efraty.com

FAQ

What did N2OFF (NITO) highlight about the Dec 30, 2025 Journal of Translational Medicine study?

N2OFF highlighted a study analyzing 53 SLC25A genes as biomarkers/targets for spaceflight‑induced dysfunction and a structural case study of the AAC3 carrier.

When was the SLC25A mitochondrial carrier study published and what is the DOI?

The study was published online on Dec 30, 2025 with DOI 10.1186/s12967-025-07505-z.

How many SLC25A genes did the research examine under spaceflight conditions in the N2OFF announcement?

The analysis examined expression of 53 SLC25A genes in osteocytes, hBMSCs, and mouse brain tissue exposed to microgravity and related stressors.

What role does the AAC3 (ADP/ATP carrier) play in the published study highlighted by N2OFF (NITO)?

AAC3 was used as a structural case study to illustrate how carrier conformational features might be targeted to rescue mitochondrial bioenergetics under stress.

How does the study relate to MitoCareX Bio and N2OFF's drug discovery work?

The study aligns with MitoCareX Bio's focus on SLC25A carriers and complements its MITOLINE™ computational modeling and virtual screening of small‑molecule modulators.

Does the N2OFF release state the study was performed by MitoCareX Bio?

No; the release says the academic research was independent and not performed under MitoCareX Bio's auspices, though it aligns with the company's scientific focus.