A New Oral Medicine to Stop Immune Cells from Traveling to the Gut
Official title: A novel, pleiotropic oral drug class that inhibits gut migration of activated T cells
Funded at Orphagen Pharmaceuticals · NIH-11184207 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This research is developing a new oral medicine to help people with inflammatory bowel disease by preventing certain immune cells from causing inflammation in the gut.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Sbir 2 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Orphagen Pharmaceuticals NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (San Diego, United States) |
| Project start | September 15, 2024 |
| Project end | July 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $634,145 |
| NIH project number | 5R44DK136458-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11184207 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with inflammatory bowel disease, particularly those who have not found lasting relief with existing treatments, might be ideal candidates for future studies of this drug.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without inflammatory bowel disease or those whose condition is well-managed by current treatments may not directly benefit from this specific research.
What this research studies
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic condition where the gut becomes inflamed, and current treatments don't always provide lasting relief for everyone. This new medicine aims to block specific signals that tell immune cells to travel to the gut and cause inflammation. By stopping these cells from reaching the gut, the medicine could reduce the ongoing inflammation that causes IBD symptoms. Early studies in mice show promising results in reducing gut inflammation and blocking these immune cell signals, suggesting a new way to manage IBD.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this new oral medicine could offer a more effective treatment option for patients with inflammatory bowel disease who do not respond well to current therapies.
How similar studies have gone: While existing IBD therapies target similar pathways, this grant explores a novel drug class that simultaneously blocks two key gut-homing factors, representing a new approach.
Where this research is happening
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Orphagen Pharmaceuticals
San Diego, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Thacher, Scott Mcnear — Orphagen Pharmaceuticals
- Study coordinator: Thacher, Scott Mcnear
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.