A New Antibiotic for Tough-to-Treat Infections
Official title: A New Class of Broad-Spectrum Antibacterial Agents to Treat Multi-Drug Resistant Pathogens
Funded at Curza INC · NIH-11112508 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project is creating a new type of antibiotic called CZ-02 to fight serious infections caused by bacteria that resist many common medicines.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Sbir 2 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Curza INC NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Salt Lake City, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | July 21, 2023 |
| Project end | June 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $858,436 |
| NIH project number | 5R44AI170297-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11112508 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with severe bacterial infections, particularly those caused by multi-drug resistant Gram-negative bacteria like Acinetobacter baumannii or Pseudomonas aeruginosa, could potentially benefit from this future treatment.
✕Less likely to help
Patients whose infections are treatable with existing antibiotics or those without bacterial infections would not directly benefit from this specific new drug development.
What this research studies
Our bodies are home to many bacteria, but some can cause serious infections, especially when they become resistant to existing antibiotics. This project focuses on developing a new class of antibiotics, called CZ-02, designed to combat these multi-drug resistant bacteria, including both Gram-negative and Gram-positive types. CZ-02 works by targeting a unique spot on bacterial ribosomes, which helps prevent resistance to other drugs. Inspired by natural compounds, these new antibiotics have been carefully engineered to be powerful against resistant infections while being safe for human cells, showing promise in animal models.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this new antibiotic could offer a vital treatment option for patients suffering from life-threatening infections that no longer respond to current medications.
How similar studies have gone: This approach is novel in developing a new class of antibiotics inspired by natural products, and early results in animal models have shown promising efficacy against resistant pathogens.
Where this research is happening
-
Curza INC
Salt Lake City, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Sebahar, Paul — Curza INC
- Study coordinator: Sebahar, Paul
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.