Developing a new treatment for gonorrhea
Official title: A broad spectrum anti-gonorrhea immunotherapeutic
Funded at Planet Biotechnology, INC. · NIH-11066542 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is exploring a new way to help your body fight gonorrhea, especially the tougher strains that don't respond to antibiotics, by using a special protein that boosts your immune system to target and kill the bacteria.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Planet Biotechnology, INC. NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Hayward, United States) |
| Project start | April 4, 2024 |
| Project end | March 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $296,920 |
| NIH project number | 5R41AI179576-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11066542 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals diagnosed with gonorrhea, particularly those who have not responded to standard antibiotic treatments.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not have gonorrhea or those with other unrelated health conditions may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on creating a new immunotherapeutic approach to treat gonorrhea, a sexually transmitted infection that has seen a rise in antibiotic resistance. The team is investigating a chimeric protein that can effectively kill the bacteria responsible for gonorrhea by utilizing the body's immune system. Through laboratory studies, they aim to demonstrate the effectiveness of this treatment against various strains of the bacteria, particularly those that are resistant to current antibiotics.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could provide a new, effective treatment option for gonorrhea, especially for patients with antibiotic-resistant infections.
How similar studies have gone: While the approach of using immunotherapeutics is promising, it is relatively novel in the context of gonorrhea treatment, and similar strategies have shown varying degrees of success in other infectious diseases.
Where this research is happening
-
Planet Biotechnology, INC.
Hayward, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Wycoff, Keith — Planet Biotechnology, INC.
- Study coordinator: Wycoff, Keith
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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.