A new topical medicine for the viral skin condition Molluscum Contagiosum
Official title: Development of a Peptide-Drug Conjugate for Topically Treating the Viral Skin Disease Molluscum Contagiosum
Funded at Fox Chase Chemical Diversity Center, INC · NIH-11158586 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This research aims to create a new cream to treat Molluscum Contagiosum, a common and contagious skin infection, especially in children.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Fox Chase Chemical Diversity Center, INC NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Doylestown, United States) |
| Project start | April 19, 2021 |
| Project end | July 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $967,415 |
| NIH project number | 5R42AI162385-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11158586 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with Molluscum Contagiosum, particularly children aged 0-11 years and individuals with compromised immune systems, are the target beneficiaries of this research.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without Molluscum Contagiosum or those seeking systemic treatments for other conditions would not directly benefit from this specific topical drug development.
What this research studies
Molluscum Contagiosum is a highly contagious skin disease that causes lesions on the body and face, often lasting for months or even years, particularly affecting children and those with weakened immune systems. Current treatments can be painful, may cause scarring, and are not always effective or FDA-approved, as there is no specific antiviral drug available. This project is working on a new type of medicine, called a peptide-drug, that can be applied directly to the skin. This new approach targets a specific protein that the virus needs to grow, aiming to stop the infection more effectively and with fewer side effects than current options.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to a safe, effective, and less painful topical treatment for Molluscum Contagiosum, especially benefiting children and immunocompromised individuals.
How similar studies have gone: This approach is novel, building on recent breakthroughs in identifying a specific viral target and creating a new cell-based screening system, rather than refining existing successful treatments.
Where this research is happening
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Fox Chase Chemical Diversity Center, INC
Doylestown, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ricciardi, Robert Paul — Fox Chase Chemical Diversity Center, INC
- Study coordinator: Ricciardi, Robert Paul
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.