New medicines to treat gonorrhea
Development of novel anti-Neisseria gonorrhoeae therapeutic agents
Developing drug candidates based on carbonic anhydrase inhibitors to kill gonorrhea bacteria for people with genital, rectal, or throat infections.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Purdue University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (West Lafayette, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11139639 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
From my perspective as a patient, researchers are testing FDA-approved carbonic anhydrase inhibitors (like acetazolamide) and designing similar compounds that showed bacterial-killing activity in lab tests. They will test these molecules against clinical strains of Neisseria gonorrhoeae, including antibiotic-resistant isolates, and check effects on beneficial bacteria. The team will optimize compounds for potency and safety in laboratory models as a step toward possible future safety testing in people. If promising, the best candidates could advance to further preclinical and clinical development.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with confirmed gonorrhea infections — especially those with antibiotic-resistant strains or infections of the genitals, rectum, or throat — would be the most relevant candidates for future trials.
Not a fit: People without gonorrhea, those whose infections respond well to current antibiotics, or those ineligible for future clinical trials (e.g., certain medical exclusions) would not gain direct benefit from this research now.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Could produce new treatments that work against antibiotic-resistant gonorrhea and help prevent complications like pelvic inflammatory disease and infertility.
How similar studies have performed: Early laboratory studies show FDA-approved carbonic anhydrase inhibitors can kill N. gonorrhoeae in lab tests, but they have not yet been proven effective as treatments in people.
Where this research is happening
West Lafayette, United States
- Purdue University — West Lafayette, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Flaherty, Daniel Patrick — Purdue University
- Study coordinator: Flaherty, Daniel Patrick
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.