NerveLight dye to highlight nerves during prostate surgery
Official title: Toxicology (IND-enabling) studies for a novel nerve imaging agent for prostate cancer
Funded at Manzanita Pharmaceuticals, INC. · NIH-11187227 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project tests NerveLight, a fluorescent dye bound to nerve growth factor, to make nerves visible during radical prostatectomy so surgeons can better avoid them.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Sbir 2 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Manzanita Pharmaceuticals, INC. NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Woodside, United States) |
| Project start | September 6, 2024 |
| Project end | August 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $1,090,970 |
| NIH project number | 5R44CA295214-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11187227 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Men scheduled for radical prostatectomy for prostate cancer who could be candidates for nerve-sparing surgery would be the eventual target group for this approach.
✕Less likely to help
Patients not undergoing prostate surgery, those for whom nerve-sparing is not an option, or people with known allergy to the agent would not be expected to benefit from this work right now.
What this research studies
If I'm a patient having prostate surgery, the team is developing a dye that sticks to nerve endings and lights up under near-infrared imaging so surgeons can see nerves during the operation. The plan is to apply a single topical dose at the start of the surgery for about 15 minutes and then wash the excess away. Right now the work is focused on GLP toxicology and safety testing in rats and dogs to meet FDA requirements before human trials. The developers have seen the dye light up nerves in many rat experiments and preliminary detection in dogs and have separate safety data from eye-drop dosing.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could help surgeons preserve nerves during prostatectomy and reduce rates of erectile dysfunction and urinary incontinence after surgery.
How similar studies have gone: Animal studies to date show the dye can selectively label nerves and be detected with clinical near-infrared systems, but there is currently no approved soluble nerve imaging agent for human surgery.
Where this research is happening
-
Manzanita Pharmaceuticals, INC.
Woodside, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kahl, Stephen B — Manzanita Pharmaceuticals, INC.
- Study coordinator: Kahl, Stephen B
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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.