Enhancing antifungal treatment with pathway-targeting agents that boost existing drugs
Official title: Enhancing Antifungal Efficacy: Leveraging PCA Pathway Inhibitors as Antimicrobial Adjuvants
Funded at Curatix, LLC · NIH-11185506 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project tests a new class of helper molecules that make antifungal drugs work much better against hard-to-treat fungal infections in patients at risk from invasive disease.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Sbir 2 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Curatix, LLC NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Groton, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | July 14, 2026 |
| Project end | June 30, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $1,001,286 |
| NIH project number | 1R44AI192071-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11185506 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Individuals with invasive fungal infections, especially those caused by drug-resistant strains, who may benefit from combination therapies involving PAMS and standard antifungals.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with fungal infections that respond well to current therapies or those unable to tolerate combination treatments may not benefit.
What this research studies
Fungal infections can be deadly for immunocompromised patients, and resistance to standard antifungal drugs is a growing problem. This project uses Potentiators of Antimicrobial Susceptibility (PAMS) that are designed to boost the effectiveness of existing antifungal medications by targeting the pantothenate-CoA pathway. The approach focuses on combining PAMS with approved drugs to overcome resistance and potentially reduce drug exposure while improving outcomes. The work involves preclinical and translational steps to demonstrate enhanced activity and safety in relevant models before moving toward human trials. If successful, this could lead to more effective treatment options for people with invasive fungal infections.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Potentially improved treatment success and outcomes for patients with invasive fungal infections through more powerful antifungal therapy.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies with combination approaches and adjuvant strategies have shown promise in enhancing antifungal efficacy, though this exact PAMS approach is novel and forthcoming.
Where this research is happening
-
Curatix, LLC
Groton, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Choi, Jae-Yeon — Curatix, LLC
- Study coordinator: Choi, Jae-Yeon
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.