Protagenic Therapeutics Upgrades from OTC Pink to OTCQB Venture Market

Rhea-AI Summary

Protagenic Therapeutics (OTCQB: PTIX) announced an upgrade from OTC Pink to OTCQB and commenced trading on OTCQB under the symbol PTIX on March 10, 2026. The move is intended to improve market visibility, trading liquidity and access to real-time quotes.

The company said it completed a Phase 1 multiple-dose safety study showing a clean safety and tolerability profile and remains on track to begin Phase 2 enrollment in 2026 for lead candidate PT00114 targeting treatment-resistant depression and anxiety.

Positive

• Upgraded to OTCQB and began trading as PTIX on March 10, 2026
• Completed Phase 1 multiple-dose safety study demonstrating clean safety and tolerability
• Company remains on track to begin Phase 2 enrollment in 2026

Negative

• None.

News Market Reaction – PTIX

+16.39%

1 alert

+16.39% News Effect

On the day this news was published, PTIX gained 16.39%, reflecting a significant positive market reaction.

Data tracked by StockTitan Argus on the day of publication.

Key Figures

Phase 1: Phase 1 Phase 2 start: Phase 2 Phase 2 timing: 2026

3 metrics

Phase 1 Phase 1 Completed multiple-dose safety study for PT00114

Phase 2 start Phase 2 Enrollment planned to begin in 2026 for PT00114

Phase 2 timing 2026 Target year to begin Phase 2 enrollment

Market Reality Check

Price: $0.4901 Vol: Volume 4,570 is about bel...

low vol

$0.4901 Last Close

Volume Volume 4,570 is about below the 20-day average of 10,612 (relative volume 0.43x). low

Technical Price 0.4211 trades well below the 200-day MA 2.52 and 97.05% below the 52-week high of 14.28.

Peers on Argus

PTIX was flat pre-news while peers in Biotechnology showed mixed moves, from -9....

1 Down

PTIX was flat pre-news while peers in Biotechnology showed mixed moves, from -9.35% (GTBP) to +18.98% (SLRX). Only SPRC appeared in momentum scans, down 18.18%, suggesting stock-specific context rather than a coordinated sector move.

Historical Context

2 past events · Latest: Dec 09 (Positive)

Pattern 2 events

Date	Event	Sentiment	Move	Catalyst
Dec 09	Phase 1 results	Positive	-1.8%	Reported positive topline safety results from Phase 1 multiple-dose PT00114 study.
Nov 13	Trial enrollment	Positive	+9.4%	Completed enrollment and dosing in Phase 1 MAD study of PT00114.

Pattern Detected

Recent PT00114 clinical updates were positive but drew mixed price reactions, with one aligning and one diverging from the upbeat tone.

Recent Company History

Over the past few months, Protagenic has focused on advancing lead candidate PT00114. On November 13, 2025, it completed enrollment and dosing in a Phase 1 MAD study, and on December 9, 2025 reported positive topline multiple-dose safety data with PT00114 well tolerated across dose ranges. Those updates supported plans for a Phase 2 study in early 2026. Today’s OTCQB uplisting complements that clinical progress by targeting better market visibility and trading access.

Market Pulse Summary

The stock surged +16.4% in the session following this news. A strong positive reaction aligns with t...

Analysis

The stock surged +16.4% in the session following this news. A strong positive reaction aligns with the company’s efforts to pair clinical progress on PT00114 with improved market visibility through the move to the OTCQB. Past PT00114 updates saw mixed stock responses, so any large move could reflect shifting sentiment toward its Phase 2 plans in 2026. Investors would need to watch financing developments and future clinical readouts when assessing durability of such a move.

Key Terms

otcqb, otc pink, phase 1, phase 2, +2 more

6 terms

otcqb financial

"its common stock has been upgraded from OTC Pink to the OTCQB®"

OTCQB is a tier of the over‑the‑counter (OTC) market where smaller or developing companies list their shares for trading without being on a major stock exchange. Think of it like a well‑kept side street market: companies must meet basic reporting and transparency checks so investors get more information than the lowest OTC tier, but trading is usually less liquid and riskier than on big exchanges. Investors care because OTCQB listings can offer early access to growth stories but come with higher price swings and greater chance of limited resale options.

otc pink financial

"its common stock has been upgraded from OTC Pink to the OTCQB®"

OTC Pink is a trading tier for stocks that are not listed on major exchanges and generally have the least regulatory oversight and public disclosure. Think of it as a flea market for shares: prices can swing wildly and it can be hard to find reliable information or buyers, so investors face higher risks of loss, limited liquidity, and greater chance of fraud or sudden price jumps.

phase 1 medical

"completed a successful Phase 1 multiple-dose safety study"

Phase 1 is the first stage of testing a new drug or medical treatment in people, focused primarily on safety, how the body handles the product, and finding a tolerated dose. Think of it as a short, tightly controlled experiment with a small group to check for dangerous side effects before wider testing; for investors it is an early milestone that reduces some uncertainty but still carries high risk and potential for both big value changes and setbacks.

phase 2 medical

"remains on track to begin Phase 2 enrollment in 2026"

Phase 2 is the mid-stage clinical trial where a new drug or treatment is tested in a larger group of patients to see if it works and to keep checking safety after initial human testing. Think of it as a field test that proves whether a product actually delivers its promised benefit. Investors watch Phase 2 closely because its results strongly influence a medicine’s chances of reaching the market, the size of its potential sales, and the company’s valuation.

multiple-dose medical

"completed a successful Phase 1 multiple-dose safety study"

A multiple-dose regimen means a medication or treatment is given repeatedly over a period of time rather than as a single one-off dose; studies labeled "multiple-dose" track how the drug builds up, how long it lasts, and whether repeated use causes side effects. For investors, these results reveal real-world safety, effectiveness, dosing convenience and manufacturing needs—factors that influence commercial appeal, regulatory approval chances and ongoing costs, much like testing how a car performs on many trips versus just one.

treatment-resistant depression medical

"treatments for stress-related disorders, including treatment-resistant depression and anxiety"

A form of major depression that does not improve after a person has tried standard treatments such as common antidepressant medications and therapy; think of it as a stubborn problem that doesn’t respond to the usual fixes. It matters to investors because it represents a large unmet medical need and a higher-risk, higher-reward area for drug developers, with potential for premium pricing, regulatory scrutiny, and durable demand if an effective new therapy is approved.

AI-generated analysis. Not financial advice.

Move strengthens market visibility, supports liquidity and real-time quote access as PT00114 advances toward Phase 2 in 2026

NEW YORK CITY, NY / ACCESS Newswire / March 10, 2026 / Protagenic Therapeutics, Inc. (OTCQB:PTIX) ("Protagenic" or the "Company"), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing first-in-class treatments for stress-related disorders, including treatment-resistant depression and anxiety, today announced that its common stock has been upgraded from OTC Pink to the OTCQB^® and has commenced trading on OTCQB under the symbol "PTIX."

The OTCQB is a recognized public market for developing companies that meet defined reporting, management certification and bid price standards. The upgrade strengthens Protagenic's public market profile and is expected to improve investor visibility, support trading liquidity and provide access to real-time market quotes through OTC Markets.

Protagenic continues to advance PT00114, its lead program for treatment-resistant depression and anxiety. The Company recently completed a successful Phase 1 multiple-dose safety study, demonstrating a clean safety and tolerability profile, and remains on track to begin Phase 2 enrollment in 2026.

"Upgrading to OTCQB is a meaningful step for Protagenic," said Bill Nichols, President of Protagenic Therapeutics. "It gives investors better market visibility, real-time quotation access and a more transparent public-market platform as we advance PT00114 toward Phase 2. We are building momentum in the clinic and maintaining the public-company standards shareholders should expect."

About PT00114
PT00114 is a first-in-class investigational compound targeting the teneurin C-terminal associated peptide (TCAP) pathway, a novel mechanism of action being studied for treatment-resistant depression, anxiety and related stress disorders.

About Protagenic Therapeutics
Protagenic Therapeutics, Inc. (OTCQB:PTIX) is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing novel treatments for stress-related neurological disorders. The Company is headquartered in New York, NY. For more information, please visit www.protagenic.com

Forward-Looking Statements

Statements in this press release contain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the U.S. federal securities laws. Forward-looking statements can be identified by words such as "projects," "may," "will," "could," "would," "should," "believes," "expects," "anticipates," "estimates," "intends," "plans," "potential," "promise" or similar references to future periods. Examples of forward-looking statements in this current report include, without limitation, statements regarding the Company's expected filing of its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, the Company's planned appeal before the Panel, and the continued listing of the Company's securities pending the appeal. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts nor assurances of future performance. Instead, they are based on the Company's current beliefs, expectations and assumptions regarding the future of its business, future plans, strategies, projections, anticipated events and trends, the economy and other future conditions. Because forward-looking statements relate to the future, they are subject to inherent risks and uncertainties, and actual results may differ materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ include, without limitation, that there can be no assurance that the Company will file the Form 10-Q, that there can be no assurance that the Company will otherwise meet Nasdaq compliance standards, that there can be no assurance that Nasdaq will grant the Company any relief from delisting as necessary or whether the Company can agree to or ultimately meet applicable Nasdaq requirements for any such relief, and the other important factors described under the caption "Risk Factors" in the Company's filings with the SEC. Any forward-looking statement made by the Company in this current report is based only on information currently available and speaks only as of the date on which it is made. Except as required by applicable law, the Company expressly disclaims any obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statements, whether written or oral, that may be made from time to time, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise.

Company Contact:

Alexander K. Arrow, MD, CFA
Chief Financial Officer
Protagenic Therapeutics, Inc.
149 Fifth Ave, Suite 500, New York, NY 10010
Tel: 213-260-4342
Email: alex.arrow@protagenic.com

SOURCE: Protagenic Therapeutics, Inc.

View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire

FAQ

What does Protagenic's OTCQB upgrade mean for PTIX investors?

It should improve public market visibility and quote transparency for PTIX. According to the company, the upgrade provides better real-time quotation access and is expected to support trading liquidity and investor visibility on OTC Markets.

When did PTIX start trading on OTCQB and under what symbol?

PTIX commenced trading on OTCQB on March 10, 2026 under the symbol PTIX. According to the company, the listing reflects meeting OTCQB reporting, management certification and bid price standards.

What is the clinical status of Protagenic's lead candidate PT00114 (PTIX)?

PT00114 completed a Phase 1 multiple-dose safety study showing a clean safety and tolerability profile. According to the company, PT00114 is advancing toward Phase 2 with enrollment expected to begin in 2026.

Will the OTCQB upgrade increase PTIX trading liquidity immediately?

The upgrade is expected to support trading liquidity and market visibility but does not guarantee immediate liquidity gains. According to the company, OTCQB provides real-time quotes and a more transparent public-market platform that can attract investors.

How can investors access real-time quotes for PTIX after the upgrade?

Investors can view real-time PTIX quotes through OTC Markets and brokerage platforms supporting OTCQB securities. According to the company, the upgrade enables access to real-time market quotes and improved public-market profile for PTIX.