Finding new antiviral drugs to treat orthopoxvirus infections
Official title: Discovery of antiviral inhibitors for the treatment of orthopoxvirus infections
Funded at Venatorx Pharmaceuticals, INC. · NIH-10892864 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking for new medicines to help fight infections like smallpox by testing a huge number of different compounds to find ones that can work as antiviral treatments for people who might be at risk.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Sbir 1 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Venatorx Pharmaceuticals, INC. NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Malvern, United States) |
| Project start | July 24, 2023 |
| Project end | December 31, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $300,000 |
| NIH project number | 5R43AI179443-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10892864 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research include adults over 21 years old who may be at risk for orthopoxvirus infections, particularly in regions with potential exposure.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not at risk for orthopoxvirus infections or those who are already receiving effective antiviral treatments may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research aims to discover new antiviral inhibitors specifically targeting orthopoxvirus infections, including smallpox. The approach involves screening a large library of over 200,000 compounds to identify those with potential antiviral properties. Selected compounds will undergo further testing to evaluate their effectiveness and safety. The ultimate goal is to develop new treatment options for patients who may be at risk of orthopoxvirus infections due to the lack of current therapeutic options.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to the development of effective antiviral treatments for orthopoxvirus infections, enhancing public health safety.
How similar studies have gone: While there are existing antiviral treatments for smallpox, this research is exploring novel compounds and approaches, making it a potentially groundbreaking effort.
Where this research is happening
-
Venatorx Pharmaceuticals, INC.
Malvern, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Coburn, Glen Andrew — Venatorx Pharmaceuticals, INC.
- Study coordinator: Coburn, Glen Andrew
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.