A new sublingual vaccine to prevent gonorrhea infections
Official title: A Novel Sublingual Vaccine to Prevent Neisseria Gonorrhoeae Infection
Funded at Virtici, LLC · NIH-10830447 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is testing a new vaccine that you can take under your tongue to help protect against gonorrhea, aiming to boost your immune system's ability to fight off the infection, especially as some treatments are becoming less effective.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Sbir 1 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Virtici, LLC NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Seattle, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | April 20, 2023 |
| Project end | March 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $306,500 |
| NIH project number | 5R43AI174574-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10830447 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research would be individuals at risk of gonorrhea infection, including sexually active adults and adolescents.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not sexually active or those who have already been diagnosed with and treated for gonorrhea may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research aims to develop a novel sublingual vaccine that targets Neisseria gonorrhoeae, the bacteria responsible for gonorrhea infections. By using a sublingual delivery method, the vaccine seeks to stimulate a strong immune response directly at the mucosal surfaces, which is crucial for preventing infections. The study focuses on enhancing the immune system's Th1 and Th2 responses, which are essential for effective protection against gonorrhea, especially in the context of rising antibiotic resistance. The research will involve testing the vaccine's safety and efficacy in a controlled setting.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could provide a new, effective method to prevent gonorrhea infections, particularly in the face of increasing antibiotic resistance.
How similar studies have gone: While there have been various approaches to gonorrhea vaccination, this sublingual method represents a novel strategy that has not been extensively tested in this context.
Where this research is happening
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Virtici, LLC
Seattle, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Fanger, Neil a — Virtici, LLC
- Study coordinator: Fanger, Neil a
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.