Dual-action antibiotics for stubborn Gram-positive infections
Hybrid Antibiotics for Persistent Infections
['FUNDING_R01'] · ST. JUDE CHILDREN'S RESEARCH HOSPITAL · NIH-11129892
New dual-action antibiotics are being developed to kill hard-to-treat Gram-positive infections like bloodstream infections, prosthetic joint infections, and endocarditis.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_R01'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | ST. JUDE CHILDREN'S RESEARCH HOSPITAL (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (MEMPHIS, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11129892 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
Researchers are designing hybrid drugs that combine a urea depsipeptide (UDEP) with a rifamycin to attack bacteria in two different ways. The goal is to kill bacteria that hide in biofilms or enter a dormant, slow-growing state that makes standard antibiotics less effective. Scientists are using structure-based design and pharmacology testing to optimize how these hybrids work and how they behave in the body. Most work is currently lab-based and focused on preclinical tests to support possible future clinical trials.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with recurrent or hard-to-treat Gram-positive infections such as bacteremia, prosthetic joint infections, or infective endocarditis would be the ideal candidates for future trials.
Not a fit: Patients with infections caused by Gram-negative bacteria or those needing immediate standard-of-care antibiotics rather than experimental therapies may not benefit from this work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, these drugs could more reliably clear persistent and biofilm-associated Gram-positive infections that often recur or resist current treatments.
How similar studies have performed: Rifampin is already used clinically and protease-activating approaches have shown promise in laboratory models, but the specific UDEP–rifamycin hybrid approach is novel and remains largely preclinical.
Where this research is happening
MEMPHIS, UNITED STATES
- ST. JUDE CHILDREN'S RESEARCH HOSPITAL — MEMPHIS, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: LEE, RICHARD E. — ST. JUDE CHILDREN'S RESEARCH HOSPITAL
- Study coordinator: LEE, RICHARD E.
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 below.