A new probiotic treatment for rheumatoid arthritis
Official title: A Novel Immunological-Directed Biotherapy for Treating Rheumatoid Arthritis
Funded at Rise Therapeutics, LLC · NIH-11076391 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is testing a new probiotic treatment using L. lactis to help people with rheumatoid arthritis by calming down the immune system to reduce inflammation and joint damage, with the hope of providing lasting relief from symptoms.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Sbir 2 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Rise Therapeutics, LLC NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Rockville, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | September 4, 2023 |
| Project end | June 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $987,225 |
| NIH project number | 4R44AG084484-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11076391 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis who have not responded adequately to existing treatments.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with rheumatoid arthritis who are currently in remission or those who do not have a confirmed diagnosis may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research aims to develop a novel probiotic-based therapy using L. lactis to treat rheumatoid arthritis (RA), a chronic inflammatory condition affecting the joints. The approach focuses on regulating specific immune cells to reduce inflammation and prevent damage to the body's own tissues. By targeting the immune response, the therapy seeks to provide long-term relief from symptoms and potentially reduce the need for ongoing biologic treatments. Patients will be monitored for their response to this innovative oral immunotherapy.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to a more effective and safer treatment option for patients with rheumatoid arthritis.
How similar studies have gone: While the use of probiotics in autoimmune diseases is an emerging field, this specific approach using L. lactis for rheumatoid arthritis is novel and has not been extensively tested in prior studies.
Where this research is happening
-
Rise Therapeutics, LLC
Rockville, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Fanger, Gary — Rise Therapeutics, LLC
- Study coordinator: Fanger, Gary
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Gut microbes and methotrexate: boosting RA treatment through microbiome targets
Researchers are studying how gut bacteria affect how well methotrexate works for people with rheumatoid arthritis, aiming to make MTX effective for more patients.
-
Hybrid biomaterial system to boost immunotherapy for rheumatoid arthritis
A new, patient-facing immunotherapy approach uses specialized particles to retrain the immune system to calm RA in adults.
-
Role of Stabilin receptors in rheumatoid arthritis
A short study to understand how certain scavenger receptors may influence the development and progression of rheumatoid arthritis in adults.
-
IgG glycosylation and endothelial FcγRIIB: understanding RA-related heart and blood vessel disease
This project looks at how rheumatoid arthritis affects blood vessels and clotting, with the goal of uncovering new ways to prevent heart and stroke risk for people with RA.
-
Risk factors and biomarkers for progression of subclinical RA-related lung disease
This study follows people with rheumatoid arthritis to understand who develops lung disease and what biomarkers predict it.
-
Pregnancy changes in rheumatoid arthritis and new treatment ideas
This research seeks to understand why some women’s rheumatoid arthritis improves during pregnancy and how to predict and mimic that effect to make treatments safer and more effective for pregnant patients.
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.