Developing a new oral antibiotic to treat drug-resistant gonorrhea infections.
Official title: Lead optimization of oral DHFR inhibitor for the treatment of multidrug-resistant N. gonorrhoeae infections.
Funded at Taxis Pharmaceuticals, INC. · NIH-11182998 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is working on a new pill to help treat gonorrhea, especially the tough strains that don't respond to current medicines, so patients can have a better and safer option for getting better.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Sbir 2 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Taxis Pharmaceuticals, INC. NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Monmouth Junction, United States) |
| Project start | May 16, 2025 |
| Project end | April 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $1,000,000 |
| NIH project number | 1R44AI191886-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11182998 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals diagnosed with gonorrhea, particularly those with infections resistant to standard antibiotic treatments.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with gonorrhea infections that are not resistant to current antibiotics may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on creating a new oral antibiotic specifically designed to combat multidrug-resistant strains of Neisseria gonorrhoeae, the bacteria responsible for gonorrhea. The approach involves optimizing a class of compounds that target bacterial dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR), which is crucial for bacterial growth. The research aims to develop a drug that is not only effective against resistant strains but also has good oral bioavailability and a favorable safety profile. Patients may benefit from a new treatment option as current therapies are becoming ineffective due to resistance.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could provide a new effective treatment for patients suffering from drug-resistant gonorrhea infections.
How similar studies have gone: While the development of new antibiotics is challenging, there have been successful efforts in creating targeted therapies for antibiotic-resistant infections, making this approach promising yet still somewhat novel.
Where this research is happening
-
Taxis Pharmaceuticals, INC.
Monmouth Junction, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Parhi, Ajit K — Taxis Pharmaceuticals, INC.
- Study coordinator: Parhi, Ajit K
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.