New oral TAK1 inhibitor to help with chemotherapy-related nerve pain
Official title: Development of a novel, orally bioavailable, TAK1 inhibitor for the treatment of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy
Funded at Eydis Bio, INC. · NIH-11312109 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A new oral drug candidate aims to prevent or lessen nerve damage and pain caused by certain chemotherapy treatments in cancer patients.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Sbir 1 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Eydis Bio, INC. NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Durham, United States) |
| Project start | September 14, 2026 |
| Project end | August 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $406,496 |
| NIH project number | 1R43CA310084-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11312109 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults undergoing neurotoxic chemotherapy who are at risk for CIPN and may benefit from preventive strategies.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not develop CIPN or whose nerve pain has other causes may not experience direct benefit.
What this research studies
This project focuses on a TAK1 inhibitor taken orally to address chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN), a common and painful side effect of many cancer drugs. Researchers will use preclinical models and early human-relevant studies to understand how blocking TAK1 might protect nerves during chemotherapy. If successful, this approach could lead to safer, more tolerable cancer treatments with less long-term nerve pain. The work could pave the way for future clinical testing in patients who experience CIPN.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients could experience less nerve pain and better quality of life during and after chemotherapy.
How similar studies have gone: Other TAK1-targeted strategies are being explored, but this exact oral inhibitor approach for CIPN is new and early-stage.
Where this research is happening
-
Eydis Bio, INC.
Durham, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Scarneo, Scott — Eydis Bio, INC.
- Study coordinator: Scarneo, Scott
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Non-invasive, microscopic biomarkers to detect CIPN in chemotherapy patients
This grant aims to develop a non-invasive imaging method to measure nerve changes in patients undergoing chemotherapy to better understand and monitor chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN).
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Longitudinal study of how body-sense relates to chemotherapy nerve damage
This study follows people with breast or gastrointestinal cancer and healthy controls to see if brain processing of body sensations contributes to chemotherapy-induced nerve damage.
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A new screen for chemotherapy-related nerve problems in young children
A clinician-scientist at Yale is developing a child-friendly survey to quickly screen for nerve-related side effects from cancer treatment in kids from birth to age 5.
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How the immune system’s CD4+ T cells in women might prevent chemotherapy-related nerve pain
A study in mice explores whether female immune cells in nerve tissue can lessen pain from chemotherapy, with potential implications for preventing CIPN in women.
-
Axonal transport and chemotherapy-related nerve pain
This grant studies why certain cancer patients develop painful nerve damage from chemotherapy and explores ways to prevent or treat it.
-
Remote monitoring and nurse follow-up to manage chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy
A program uses symptom reporting tools with nurse follow-up to reduce and better manage chemotherapy-induced neuropathy for cancer survivors, during and after treatment.
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.