XORTX Announces Pioneering Research on Genome-Wide Pathogenic Pathways in Gout and Provides a Corporate Update

Rhea-AI Summary

XORTX (NASDAQ: XRTX) highlights peer-reviewed research linking 410 genetic factors (including 149 new) to gout-related inflammatory pathways and to increased xanthine oxidase (XO) expression, supporting XO inhibition as a therapeutic approach. The company cites supporting human and animal studies tying higher XO expression to hyperuricemia, kidney dysfunction, diabetes, sepsis/ARDS and polycystic kidney disease.

Corporate updates: appointment of Krysta Davies Foss to the board; three directors resigned reducing the board to five. XORTX corrected the October 29, 2025 financing numbers and confirmed the US$1.1M registered direct offering closed with a 7% cash commission. Acquisition of a renal anti-fibrotic program from Vectus remains pending ASX approval with closing targeted by Jan 13, 2026.

Positive

• Peer-reviewed study links 410 genetic factors to gout mechanisms
• Research supports targeting xanthine oxidase (XO) for gout and kidney disease
• Closed US$1.1M registered direct offering to fund programs
• Planned clinical trial of commercial oxypurinol advancing toward an NDA
• Agreement to acquire renal anti-fibrotic program from Vectus (pending)

Negative

• Acquisition closing delayed pending ASX approval; target date Jan 13, 2026
• Correction to financing disclosure: 60,000 pre-funded warrant discrepancy noted
• Three director resignations reduced board to 5 members

Key Figures

Study population 2.6 million individuals Genome-wide association study in gout cited in article

Genetic factors 410 genetic factors Factors associated with inflammatory mechanisms of gout

New genetic factors 149 new factors Newly identified genetic factors linked to gout mechanisms

Registered Direct Offering US$1.1 million Offering closed October 29, 2025, clarified in update

Common shares issued 572,470 shares Shares issued in Registered Direct Offering

Pre-funded warrants 1,177,530 warrants Corrected count of pre-funded warrants issued in Offering

Agent warrants 87,500 warrants at US$0.69 Warrants granted to D. Boral Capital LLC

Cash commission US$77,175 (7%) Commission paid to D. Boral Capital LLC on Offering

Market Reality Check

$0.5700 Last Close

Volume Volume 22,203 is subdued at about 0.48x the 20-day average of 46,195 heading into this announcement. low

Technical Shares at $0.562 are trading below the 200-day MA of $0.82 and sit 68.6% under the 52-week high, near the 52-week low.

Peers on Argus 2 Up 1 Down

Biotech peers showed mixed moves, with names like TOVX (+10.74%) and QNRX (+7.93%) up, while others such as JAGX (-10.46%) and ENTO (-5.68%) were down, pointing to stock-specific rather than sector-wide drivers for XRTX.

Historical Context

Date	Event	Sentiment	Move	Catalyst
Oct 29	Registered offering close	Negative	+2.9%	Closed US$1.1M registered direct offering under F-3 with warrants issued.
Oct 21	Registered offering pricing	Negative	-3.4%	Priced ~US$1.1M registered direct offering at US$0.63 per share.
Oct 20	Nasdaq extension	Negative	-31.8%	Announced 180-day extension to regain compliance with $1.00 Nasdaq bid rule.
Oct 20	Bid deficiency notice	Negative	-31.8%	Disclosed Nasdaq notice of non-compliance with minimum $1.00 bid price.
Oct 17	Pipeline acquisition	Positive	+29.4%	Agreed to acquire Vectus renal anti-fibrotic program VB4-P5 at pre-IND stage.

Pattern Detected

Recent news includes dilution-related offerings and Nasdaq compliance challenges, which drew sharp negative reactions, while the Vectus renal program acquisition prompted a strong positive move.

Recent Company History

Over the past few months, XORTX has balanced strategic pipeline expansion with capital markets pressure. The Vectus renal anti-fibrotic program acquisition on Oct 17, 2025 drove a 29.41% gain, reflecting interest in new assets. By contrast, Nasdaq minimum bid price deficiency notices on Oct 20, 2025 saw the stock fall about 31.82%. A US$1.1M registered direct offering in late October, under an F-3, had modest, mixed reactions. Today’s research and corporate update builds on that scientific and strategic backdrop without changing those prior regulatory constraints.

Market Pulse Summary

This announcement combines peer-reviewed research support for xanthine oxidase inhibition in gout and kidney disease with governance and financing clarifications. It underlines XORTX’s intent to advance an oxypurinol program toward an NDA and confirms details of a US$1.1M Registered Direct Offering, including corrected warrant counts and commissions. The update also reiterates the timeline, to January 13, 2026, for closing the Vectus renal anti-fibrotic program acquisition, a strategic asset for the company’s kidney disease focus.

Key Terms

xanthine oxidase medical

"genetic factors are linked to the over-expression of xanthine oxidase (“XO”), high chronic"

Xanthine oxidase is a naturally occurring enzyme — think of it as a tiny chemical machine in cells — that helps break down purines into uric acid and in the process produces reactive molecules. Investors care because blocking this enzyme can lower uric acid levels and reduce damaging oxidative byproducts, making it a key drug target for conditions like gout and certain cardiovascular or kidney issues; progress or setbacks in drugs against this enzyme can affect clinical, regulatory, and market outcomes.

hyperuricemia medical

"health consequences of hyperuricemia and linkage to genetic factor in gout and autosomal"

Hyperuricemia is a medical condition where uric acid builds up in the blood at higher-than-normal levels, similar to a sink that isn’t draining properly and allows residue to accumulate. It matters to investors because it is the underlying risk factor for gout and kidney stones and a target for drugs and diagnostics; changes in its prevalence, treatment options, or regulatory guidance can affect market size, company revenues, and healthcare spending.

autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease medical

"hyperuricemia and linkage to genetic factor in gout and autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD)"

A hereditary kidney disorder in which fluid-filled sacs (cysts) form and grow on the kidneys, often caused when a single parent passes down a faulty gene. Over time the cysts can reduce kidney function and lead to serious health care needs, making it important to investors because it drives demand for diagnostic tests, drugs, medical devices and long-term care, and influences clinical trial activity and regulatory milestones.

pre-funded warrants financial

"572,470 common shares and 1,177,530, a difference of 60,000 pre-funded warrants, for total"

Pre-funded warrants are financial instruments that give investors the right to purchase a company's stock at a set price, but with most or all of the purchase price paid upfront. They function like a coupon or gift card for stock, allowing investors to buy shares later at a fixed price, which can be beneficial if they want to avoid future price increases. This makes them important for investors seeking flexibility and certainty in their investment plans.

agent warrants financial

"in addition to the 87,500 agent warrants granted to D. Boral Capital LLC exercisable"

Agent warrants are rights given to the brokers or advisors who help arrange a financing to buy a company’s stock at a fixed price for a limited time. Investors watch them because if exercised they create new shares and dilute existing ownership, and they reveal part of the cost and incentive structure for raising capital — like a commission paid in discount coupons that can affect future share value.

new drug application regulatory

"preparing a NDA (new drug application) for this important gout therapy."

A new drug application is a formal request submitted to government regulators seeking approval to market a new medicine. It is like a detailed proposal that shows the drug has been tested for safety and effectiveness. For investors, receiving approval signals that the drug may soon become available for sale, potentially leading to revenue growth and impacting the company's value.

expression quantitative trait loci medical

"They identified an expression quantitative trait loci (QTL) in the cis-acting regulatory"

Expression quantitative trait loci are specific spots in the genome where small genetic differences influence how much a particular gene is turned on or off. Think of them like dimmer switches that change the brightness (level) of a gene’s activity; mapping these switches helps researchers link DNA variation to biological effects. For investors, eQTLs matter because they help validate drug targets, identify likely responders or risks, and improve biomarker-driven development, which can reduce clinical and commercial uncertainty.

cis-acting regulatory region medical

"expression quantitative trait loci (QTL) in the cis-acting regulatory region of the xanthine"

A cis-acting regulatory region is a short stretch of DNA located near a particular gene that controls how much, when, and where that gene is turned on, acting like a local dimmer switch for a specific light in a house. For investors, changes or mutations in these regions can alter a drug target’s behavior, affect disease risk or biomarker levels, and influence the development, effectiveness, or safety profile of diagnostics and therapies—factors that can materially change a biotech company’s value.

AI-generated analysis. Not financial advice.

Clinical Data doubles known genetic factors associated with urate and Gout

CALGARY, Alberta, Dec. 31, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- XORTX Therapeutics Inc. ("XORTX" or the “Company”) (NASDAQ: XRTX | TSXV: XRTX | Frankfurt: ANU), a late-stage clinical pharmaceutical company focused on developing innovative therapies to treat gout and progressive kidney disease, highlights recent peer-reviewed, independent, published research reports that expand current knowledge that genetic factors are linked to the over-expression of xanthine oxidase (“XO”), high chronic uric acid concentrations in the blood and gout. These ground breaking findings further support the Company’s approach to treating gout, kidney and other diseases by inhibiting XO.

Historically, high uric acid concentration in the blood has been associated with increased incidence of gout, inflammation and health consequences, attributed to diet and lifestyle choices. Xanthine oxidase is an essential enzyme within the uric acid metabolic pathway and is required for the breakdown of purine nucleotides. The breakdown products of XO, uric acid and reactive oxygen species, are released during the enzymatic reaction and may play a detrimental role in the circulatory system and within tissue during disease. XORTX-sponsored discoveries in rodent models of gout and polycystic kidney disease (“PKD”) implicate over-expression or over-activity of XO as a potentially important target in treating this disease. Gout is a chronic disease that is caused by an innate immune response to deposits of uric acid crystals when uric acid is high.

Recent work by TJ Major and colleagues presented evidence that in a large clinical study of 2.6 million individuals that as many as 410 genetic factors (including 149 new factors) are associated with molecular mechanisms of the inflammatory component of gout¹. This clinical study aligns closely with evidence for over-expression of XO in human² and with work by Wang et al. suggests linkage of genetic factors to PKD². Recently, new emerging discoveries link genetic factors to specific populations and show that higher XO expression is associated with a variety of conditions including hyperuricemia³, sepsis, organ failure and sepsis associated acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS)^4,5, kidney dysfunction^3,4, diabetes⁵, polycystic kidney disease^2,6 and kidney failure^7,8. From a mechanistic standpoint, these studies advocate for a precision medicine approach in which genetic risk variants would guide treatment decisions².

Commenting on the research, Allen Davidoff, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer of XORTX, stated, “This pioneering into the health consequences of hyperuricemia and linkage to genetic factor in gout and autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) sponsored by XORTX and these peer-reviewed, published research papers support our belief that pharmacologic targeting of XO holds enormous therapeutic potential, specifically where increased XO activity is associated with non-diabetic or diabetic kidney diseases. These discoveries highlight an opportunity to develop a personalized therapeutic approach for individuals whose unique genetic factors predispose them to disease, and the need for xanthine oxidase inhibition to treat those individuals at risk. We believe that XORTX’s expertise in developing XO inhibitors, protected by a patent portfolio that anticipated this opportunity, combined with our therapeutic platform is ideally positioned to deliver targeted therapeutics to individuals. Our planned clinical trial using our commercial formulation of oxypurinol will bring us ever closer preparing a NDA (new drug application) for this important gout therapy.”

Corporate Updates – Board Changes, Financing and Vectus

XORTX announces the appointment of Krysta Davies Foss as a director and the resignation of Bill Farley, Abigail Jenkins and Patrick Treanor reducing the board to five members. Ms. Davies Foss is a seasoned biotechnology executive with more than 25 years of experience advising pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies on development strategy, commercialization, and market preparedness across a broad range of therapeutic areas. She currently serves as Chief Executive Officer of Triad Strategic Services, a leading pharma and biotech strategy consulting firm. In addition to her executive role, Ms. Davies Foss serves on multiple boards, including the Canadian Organization for Rare Disorders (CORD), and has provided strategic intelligence and advisory services to organizations ranging from incubators and early-stage startups to large multinational pharmaceutical companies. Her experience spans the full product development lifecycle, from early innovation through global commercialization.

Dr Allen Davidoff stated, “The addition of Ms. Foss adds a strong board member to the Company. Her depth of strategic insight and industry leadership will be a valuable asset as the Company advances its clinical programs and long-term growth strategy. The Company wishes to thank Bill Farley, Abigail Jenkins and Pat Treanor for their efforts on behalf of XORTX over the past several years.”

The Company also wishes to clarify its disclosure included in its news release of October 29, 2025 announcing the closing of the US$1.1 million Registered Direct Offering (the “Offering”). In that news release, the number of pre-funded warrants of 1,117,530 was incorrect. On closing, the Company issued 572,470 common shares and 1,177,530, a difference of 60,000 pre-funded warrants, for total aggregate common shares and pre-funded warrants of 1,750,000. Further, the Company confirms that in addition to the 87,500 agent warrants granted to D. Boral Capital LLC exercisable at USD$0.69 per common share commencing 181 days following issuance for a period of 18 months, D. Boral Capital LLC was also paid a cash commission of USD$77,175, equal to 7% of the gross proceeds of the Offering.

Finally, the Company wishes to provide an update on timing for closing its acquisition of the Renal Anti-Fibrotic Therapeutic Program from Vectus Biosystems Limited’s (“Vectus”), an Australian Securities Exchange (“ASX”) listed company that was announced on October 17, 2025. Vectus is awaiting approval from the ASX on whether shareholder approval is required for the sale of the VB4-P5 intellectual property. Pursuant to the binding term sheet that was entered into between XORTX and Vectus, closing is to occur no later than 90 days post signing, being January 13, 2026. XORTX and Vectus remain committed to finalizing the acquisition. The Company will provide additional updates on timing for closing when clarity on ASX approval is received by Vectus.

References:

1. Major TJ, et al, A genome-wide association analysis reveals new pathogenic pathways in gout, Nature Genetics, 56, 2392-2406, 2024
2. Korsmo HW, Emerging roles of xanthine oxidoreductase in chronic kidney disease, Antioxidants, June 2024
3. Major TJ, et al Evaluation of the diet wide contribution to serum urate levels: Met-analysis of population based cohorts, BMJ, 363, k3952, 2018
4. Gao, Li et al., Xanthine oxidoreductase gene polymorphism are associated with high risk of sepsis and organ failure, Respir. Res, 24, 177_2023
5. Liu H, et al., Genetic variants in XDH are associated with prognosis off gastric cancer in a Chines population, 663, 196, 2013
6. Wang et al., Genetic susceptibility to diabetic kidney disease is linked to promoter variants of XOR.” The authors identified an expression quantitative trait loci (QTL) in the cis-acting regulatory region of the xanthine dehydrogenase, or xanthine oxidoreductase (XO), a binding site for C/EBPβ, to be associated with diabetes-induced podocyte loss in diabetic kidney disease in male mice. They concluded that certain types of alleles of a gene that controls the expression of xanthine oxidase can be over expressed in CKD, diabetic kidney disease and polycystic kidney disease.
7. Kudo M et al., Functional Characterization of Genetic Polymorphisms Identified in the Promotor Region of the Xanthine Oxidase Gene, Drug Metab. Pharmacokinet., 25, 599, 2010
8. Boban M, et al., Circulating purine compound, uric acid, and xanthine oxidase/dehydrogenate relationship in essential hypertension and end stage renal disease., Ren. Fail., 36, 613, 2014

About XORTX Therapeutics Inc.

XORTX is a pharmaceutical company with three clinically advanced products in development: 1) our lead program XRx-026 program for the treatment of gout; 2) XRx-008 program for ADPKD; and 3) XRx-101 for acute kidney and other acute organ injury associated with respiratory virus infections. In addition, the Company is developing XRx-225, a pre-clinical stage program for Type 2 diabetic nephropathy. XORTX is working to advance products that target aberrant purine metabolism and xanthine oxidase to decrease or inhibit production of uric acid. At XORTX, we are dedicated to developing medications that improve the quality of life and health of individuals with gout and other important diseases. Additional information on XORTX is available at www.xortx.com.

For more information, please contact:
Allen Davidoff, CEO	Nick Rigopulos, Director of Communications
adavidoff@xortx.com or +1 403 455 7727	nick@alpineequityadv.com or +1 617 901 0785

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor Nasdaq has approved or disapproved the contents of this news release. No stock exchange, securities commission or other regulatory authority has approved or disapproved the information contained herein. 

Forward Looking Statements

This press release contains express or implied forward-looking statements pursuant to applicable securities laws. These forward-looking statements and their implications are based on the current expectations of the management of XORTX only, and are subject to a number of factors and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements. Except as otherwise required by applicable law and stock exchange rules, XORTX undertakes 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. More detailed information about the risks and uncertainties affecting XORTX is contained under the heading “Risk Factors” in XORTX’s Annual Report on Form 20-F filed with the SEC, which is available on the SEC's website, www.sec.gov (including any documents forming a part thereof or incorporated by reference therein), as well as in our reports, public disclosure documents and other filings with the securities commissions and other regulatory bodies in Canada, which are available on www.sedarplus.ca.

FAQ

What did XORTX announce about genetic findings related to gout on December 31, 2025?

XORTX highlighted peer-reviewed research identifying 410 genetic factors, including 149 new, linked to gout inflammatory pathways and higher XO expression.

How does the new research affect XORTX's treatment strategy for XRTX?

The findings support XORTX’s strategy to inhibit xanthine oxidase (XO) as a precision-medicine approach for gout and certain kidney diseases.

What financing did XORTX complete and what was corrected in the October 29, 2025 disclosure?

XORTX closed a US$1.1M registered direct offering and corrected the number of pre-funded warrants by 60,000 to total 1,750,000 shares and pre-funded warrants.

When is XORTX expected to close the acquisition of the Renal Anti-Fibrotic Program (XRTX)?

Closing is targeted no later than January 13, 2026, but remains conditional on ASX approval for shareholder voting requirements.

Who joined XORTX's board and what board changes were announced for XRTX?

Krysta Davies Foss was appointed as a director; three directors resigned, reducing the board to five members.

Did XORTX pay fees related to the offering and what were they?

Yes; agent D. Boral Capital LLC received 87,500 warrants and a cash commission of US$77,175 (7% of gross proceeds).