New anti-infective therapy to treat gum disease
Official title: A Novel Anti-infective Therapy for Treating Periodontitis
Funded at Virtici, LLC · NIH-11389303 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A new targeted medicine would help people with periodontitis by aiming at the bacteria that drive gum disease.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Sbir 1 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Virtici, LLC NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Seattle, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | August 8, 2025 |
| Project end | July 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $308,096 |
| NIH project number | 5R43DE034614-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11389303 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with diagnosed periodontitis or those at high risk who could benefit from a targeted anti-infective for the condition.
✕Less likely to help
People without periodontitis or without involvement of the targeted bacteria would not be expected to benefit.
What this research studies
This project aims to create a first-in-class inhibitor that targets key bacteria linked to periodontitis, with the goal of treating and preventing the disease. The approach focuses on the so-called red complex bacteria that destabilize the mouth’s microbial balance and form harmful biofilms. The team plans to develop a therapy that is precise, preserving the healthy oral microbiome while reducing pathogenic bacteria. Current treatments can be broad and come with side effects, so this targeted option could offer a safer, longer-lasting benefit. The work is conducted by VIRTICI, LLC in Seattle, under an NIH grant to move from concept toward a usable treatment.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients could experience fewer symptoms and lower risk of periodontitis recurrence with a targeted therapy.
How similar studies have gone: Previous approaches have struggled with broad activity and microbiome disruption; this project proposes a targeted, first-in-class strategy which is early but builds on prior bacterial-targeted therapies.
Where this research is happening
-
Virtici, LLC
Seattle, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Halsey, Cortney — Virtici, LLC
- Study coordinator: Halsey, Cortney
Related research
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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.