A new antibiotic that makes bacteria self-destruct
Official title: Development of a Dual-Targeting ClpP Activating Antibiotic
Funded at Arietis · NIH-11164618 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A novel antibiotic is being developed to treat people with serious Gram-positive infections like MRSA, VRE, and prosthetic joint infections.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Sbir 2 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Arietis NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | September 1, 2023 |
| Project end | August 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $1,000,000 |
| NIH project number | 5R44AI179382-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11164618 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People with serious Gram-positive infections such as MRSA or VRE bacteremia, pneumonia, endocarditis, or persistent prosthetic joint infections would be the eventual candidates for clinical testing.
✕Less likely to help
People with infections caused by Gram-negative bacteria or with non-bacterial illnesses would not benefit from this antibiotic.
What this research studies
Researchers are creating a new class of drugs called ureadepsipeptides (UDEPs) that force bacteria to digest their own proteins. The team will test a lead candidate called 5192 against drug-resistant Gram-positive pathogens in lab and animal studies to check how well it kills both growing and dormant bacteria. Because this approach targets biofilms and non-growing cells, it aims to work where some current antibiotics fail. The work is focused on preparing the candidate for the safety and manufacturing steps needed before human trials can begin.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this drug could provide a new option for treating drug-resistant and biofilm-related Gram-positive infections that are hard to cure with existing antibiotics.
How similar studies have gone: Related ClpP-activating antibiotics have shown promising results in laboratory and animal studies but have not yet been proven safe and effective in human patients.
Where this research is happening
-
Arietis
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lafleur, Michael — Arietis
- Study coordinator: Lafleur, Michael
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.