Large-scale production of sialylated human milk sugars
Official title: Scaling-up flow processes for the chemoenzymatic synthesis of a sialylated glycan
Funded at Zymtronix Catalytic Systems, INC. · NIH-11176054 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project develops methods to make specific human milk sugars more efficiently so they can be used in infant formulas or as therapies for gut inflammation, allergies, and autoimmune conditions in infants and adults.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Sbir 2 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Zymtronix Catalytic Systems, INC. NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Durham, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | August 7, 2019 |
| Project end | January 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $1,114,537 |
| NIH project number | 5R44GM134847-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11176054 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Future studies enabled by this work would be most relevant to infants (via formula) and to people of any age with gut inflammatory disorders, allergic diseases, or autoimmune conditions who might try HMO-based interventions.
✕Less likely to help
People without gut, allergic, or autoimmune conditions or those seeking an immediate clinical treatment are unlikely to benefit directly from this manufacturing-focused project.
What this research studies
From a patient perspective, the team is working to produce human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs)—including sialylated sugars—at much larger scale using a cell-free, enzyme-based manufacturing approach. They use immobilized enzymes and continuous flow processes to increase yield and purity compared with small-batch methods. Phase I showed they could make several HMOs, and this Phase II work focuses on scaling and process improvements so the sugars are available in quantities needed for testing and use. The work is being done by Zymtronix in Durham using their multienzyme immobilization technology.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could make pure human milk sugars widely available for safer infant formulas and new therapies for gut inflammation, allergies, and autoimmune diseases.
How similar studies have gone: Earlier small-scale and Phase I production work successfully made multiple HMOs, but clinical benefit in humans remains to be established.
Where this research is happening
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Zymtronix Catalytic Systems, INC.
Durham, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Corgie, Stephane Cedric — Zymtronix Catalytic Systems, INC.
- Study coordinator: Corgie, Stephane Cedric
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.