A new medicine to prevent and treat radiation-related mouth sores
Preclinical assessment of a novel compound for treating radiation-induced oral mucositis
A new oral drug is being developed to prevent or shorten painful mouth sores in people getting radiation to the head and neck.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Sbir 2 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Sinopia Biosciences, INC. NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (San Diego, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11182472 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers used a computational platform to find a drug target and a small molecule that could protect mouth lining from radiation damage. They gave the compound by mouth in a well-established hamster model of radiation-induced oral mucositis and saw shorter ulcer duration and, in some animals, complete prevention of ulcers. The compound targets a family of BET bromodomain proteins and the team identified a specific domain that appears safest for this effect. This program is in preclinical development at a San Diego biotech company to prepare for possible human testing.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People receiving radiation therapy to the head or neck who are at risk for developing oral mucositis would be the likely candidates for this therapy in future trials.
Not a fit: People not undergoing head or neck radiation or whose mouth sores are caused by unrelated conditions are unlikely to benefit from this treatment.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the drug could reduce or prevent painful mouth sores and speed recovery for patients receiving head and neck radiotherapy.
How similar studies have performed: BET-family inhibitors have been given to cancer patients with an established safety profile, but using them specifically to prevent radiation mouth sores is a novel approach with promising animal data.
Where this research is happening
San Diego, United States
- Sinopia Biosciences, INC. — San Diego, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lloyd, Colton Joseph — Sinopia Biosciences, INC.
- Study coordinator: Lloyd, Colton Joseph
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 below.