New oral antifungal for tough Candida UTIs
Official title: A novel 'fungerp' targeting refractory Candida urinary tract infections
Funded at Johns Hopkins University · NIH-11378664 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A Johns Hopkins team is testing a new oral antifungal medicine called fungerps to treat urinary tract infections caused by azole-resistant Candida fungi.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Johns Hopkins University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Baltimore, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2025 |
| Project end | June 30, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $885,500 |
| NIH project number | 5U19AI189183-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11378664 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with suspected or confirmed Candida UTIs caused by azole-resistant strains.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with non-Candida UTIs or with susceptible strains may not benefit from this antifungal strategy.
What this research studies
This project focuses onCandida UTIs that don’t respond well to standard treatments. Researchers plan to use two novel compounds from Scynexis, including one already approved for another infection, to see if they can reach high levels in urine and kill resistant strains. The study will explore how well these drugs bind to fungal targets and work in biological tests relevant to bladder infections. If successful, the approach could offer an effective oral option for patients with resistant Candida UTIs.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients with azole-resistant Candida UTIs may have a new oral treatment that works in the urine.
How similar studies have gone: Preclinical data suggest these compounds have potent antifungal activity, with one already approved for another infection and potential applicability to UTIs.
Where this research is happening
-
Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Perlin, David S — Johns Hopkins University
- Study coordinator: Perlin, David S
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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.