Gut-targeted IL-10 therapy to prevent gut inflammation from cancer immunotherapy
Official title: Gut-Targeted IL-10 Delivery via Engineered Saccharomyces boulardii to Prevent Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor Colitis
Funded at Fzata, INC. · NIH-11314083 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A tiny, engineered yeast delivers a calming immune protein directly in the gut to prevent colitis in people treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Sbir 2 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Fzata, INC. NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Halethorpe, United States) |
| Project start | September 21, 2026 |
| Project end | August 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $372,153 |
| NIH project number | 1R44DK146567-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11314083 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients receiving immune checkpoint inhibitors who are at risk for or developing colitis.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without gut irAEs or those not receiving immunotherapy may not benefit.
What this research studies
This program develops an engineered Saccharomyces boulardii that secretes IL-10-Fc to reduce gut inflammation caused by cancer immunotherapy, with the goal of keeping cancer treatment on track. The project advances from strain optimization and quality control to preclinical validation, and then toward scalable manufacturing and clinical-grade capsule production. It aims to preserve anticancer immunity while limiting irAEs, potentially reducing the need for systemic steroids. If successful, the approach could offer a targeted, gut-focused therapy to prevent colitis without compromising cancer control.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients could experience fewer irAEs from immunotherapy and remain on cancer treatment longer.
How similar studies have gone: Preclinical data in mice show reduced colitis severity with this approach, supporting further development.
Where this research is happening
-
Fzata, INC.
Halethorpe, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Yang, Zhiyong — Fzata, INC.
- Study coordinator: Yang, Zhiyong
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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.