New antiviral medicines for mpox (monkeypox)
Development of novel antivirals against mpox (monkeypox) virus
Developing new antiviral drugs that could stop or lessen monkeypox infections in people.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Minnesota NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Minneapolis, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11322032 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This project focuses on turning three promising lab compounds into candidate medicines that could treat mpox. Researchers will improve the compounds' chemistry, study how the body absorbs and clears them, and check for toxicity to ensure safety. They will test the drugs in laboratory and animal models to see if they stop the virus effectively before moving toward human testing. The goal is to produce one or more preclinical candidates ready for clinical trials.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: In future clinical trials, ideal participants would be people with confirmed mpox infection, especially those at higher risk for severe disease.
Not a fit: Because this work is preclinical, patients currently infected will not directly benefit until human trials are conducted and drugs are proven safe and effective.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, these antivirals could offer effective treatment options to reduce illness and prevent severe outcomes from mpox.
How similar studies have performed: There are approved antivirals for related poxviruses (like smallpox), but their effectiveness for mpox is uncertain, so this preclinical approach is promising but still early.
Where this research is happening
Minneapolis, United States
- University of Minnesota — Minneapolis, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Wang, Zhengqiang — University of Minnesota
- Study coordinator: Wang, Zhengqiang
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.