Creating a new treatment to enhance the effectiveness of polymyxin antibiotics against resistant bacterial infections.
Official title: Development of a mechanistically novel synergistic adjuvant to partner with polymyxin antibiotics
Funded at Prokaryotics, INC. · NIH-11221451 · Data updated 2026-11-12
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 type | Sbir 2 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Prokaryotics, INC. NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Union, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2022 |
| Project end | December 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $996,450 |
| NIH project number | 4R44AI165008-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11221451 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are patients suffering from severe infections caused by Acinetobacter baumannii, particularly those with multidrug-resistant strains.
✕Less likely to help
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.
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.
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 gone: 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
-
Prokaryotics, INC.
Union, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Roemer, Terry — Prokaryotics, INC.
- Study coordinator: Roemer, Terry
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.