Creating a new treatment to enhance the effectiveness of polymyxin antibiotics against resistant bacterial infections.

Development of a mechanistically novel synergistic adjuvant to partner with polymyxin antibiotics

NIH-funded research Prokaryotics, INC. · NIH-11221451

This study is testing a new treatment that combines a special antibiotic called medinamycin with polymyxin antibiotics to help people with tough infections caused by a bacteria called Acinetobacter baumannii, which is hard to treat with regular antibiotics.

Quick facts

Grant typeSbir 2 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionProkaryotics, INC. NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Union, United States)
Project IDNIH-11221451 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

This research focuses on developing a novel adjuvant that works alongside polymyxin antibiotics to treat infections caused by Acinetobacter baumannii, a bacteria known for its high resistance to standard antibiotics. The approach involves creating a new antibiotic, medinamycin, which is designed to be effective against multidrug-resistant strains and to reduce the side effects associated with current treatments. By combining this new agent with polymyxin antibiotics, the goal is to improve treatment outcomes for patients suffering from severe infections. The research will validate the effectiveness of this combination through laboratory studies and optimize the production of the new antibiotic.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are patients suffering from severe infections caused by Acinetobacter baumannii, particularly those with multidrug-resistant strains.

Not a fit: Patients with infections caused by bacteria that are not Acinetobacter baumannii or those who are not infected with antibiotic-resistant strains may not benefit from this research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to more effective treatments for patients with severe infections caused by antibiotic-resistant bacteria, potentially saving lives.

How similar studies have performed: While the approach of using adjuvants to enhance antibiotic efficacy is not entirely novel, the specific combination being investigated has not been extensively tested, making this research a potentially groundbreaking effort.

Where this research is happening

Union, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Conditions Acinetobacter Infections
Last reviewed 2026-06-10 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.