Immune-directed probiotic treatment for rheumatoid arthritis
A Novel Immunological-Directed Biotherapy for Treating Rheumatoid Arthritis
An oral probiotic using Lactococcus lactis is being developed to calm harmful immune attacks in people with rheumatoid arthritis.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Sbir 2 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Rise Therapeutics, LLC NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Rockville, UNITED STATES) |
| Project ID | NIH-11109650 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This project develops an oral Lactococcus lactis probiotic engineered to boost autoantigen-specific regulatory T cells and promote immune tolerance in rheumatoid arthritis. By promoting bystander tolerance the approach aims to switch off the immune response against joint tissue and rebalance inflammatory cells to prevent relapses. Work includes preclinical testing in animal models and lab assays focused on TNF-α and anti-citrullinated protein antibody pathways, with the goal of advancing toward human testing. If preclinical results are favorable, the company plans to move the therapy into clinical trials.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults with diagnosed rheumatoid arthritis, particularly those who do not respond to or who relapse after TNF-blocking treatments, would be the main candidates.
Not a fit: People with non-autoimmune joint conditions (such as osteoarthritis), those with active serious infections, or individuals who cannot take probiotic-based treatments may not benefit.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this oral therapy could reduce joint inflammation, lower dependence on long-term biologic drugs, and decrease risks associated with chronic immunosuppression.
How similar studies have performed: Oral antigen delivery and Treg-enhancing approaches have shown promise in animal studies but have had limited and mixed success in human trials to date.
Where this research is happening
Rockville, UNITED STATES
- Rise Therapeutics, LLC — Rockville, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Fanger, Gary — Rise Therapeutics, LLC
- Study coordinator: Fanger, Gary
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.