Engineered probiotic to reduce alcohol-related leaky gut and endotoxin

Lactobacillus-vectored Alkaline Phosphatase to Mitigate Alcohol-induced Leaky Gut and LPS Endotoxin Load in the Gut

['FUNDING_SBIR_1'] · BIOMEDIT LLC · NIH-11330304

An engineered Lactobacillus that delivers an enzyme to the gut to help reduce alcohol-related leakiness and toxic bacterial endotoxin in people with alcoholic liver disease.

Quick facts

Phase['FUNDING_SBIR_1']
Study typeNih_funding
SexAll
SponsorBIOMEDIT LLC (nih funded)
Locations1 site (FISHERS, UNITED STATES)
Trial IDNIH-11330304 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this research studies

This project develops an engineered Lactobacillus probiotic that carries intestinal alkaline phosphatase (IAP) to the gut to neutralize bacterial endotoxin (LPS) and strengthen the intestinal barrier. The team builds on prior mouse work showing oral IAP or Lactobacillus delivery can lower LPS and reduce liver fat and inflammation. The company will optimize the bacterial delivery system to survive the stomach and supply enzyme directly in the intestine and will test activity, stability, and safety in preclinical models. If those steps succeed, the product could move toward human testing for people with alcohol-related gut and liver problems.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Adults with heavy alcohol use or early-stage alcoholic liver disease who are interested in gut-targeted therapies would be the most likely candidates for this approach.

Not a fit: People with advanced liver failure, severe immunosuppression, a history of harmful reactions to probiotics, or liver disease unrelated to alcohol may not benefit from this therapy.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could lower gut leakiness and endotoxin-driven inflammation and may help prevent or slow alcohol-related liver injury.

How similar studies have performed: Oral alkaline phosphatase and probiotic delivery have shown benefit in animal models of alcohol injury, but human data are limited and this engineered Lactobacillus approach is early-stage and novel for people.

Where this research is happening

FISHERS, 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.

View on NIH RePORTER →

Conditions: Alcoholic Liver Diseases

Last reviewed 2026-05-15 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.