New topical immune-calming cream for psoriasis

A First-in-class Topical Immunoregulatory Therapeutic for Psoriasis

NIH-funded research Biotherapeutics, INC. · NIH-11254767

A new topical medicine designed to calm skin inflammation for people with psoriasis.

Quick facts

Grant typeSbir 2 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionBiotherapeutics, INC. NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Blacksburg, UNITED STATES)
Project IDNIH-11254767 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

A small biotech is developing a first-in-class topical medicine aimed at reducing the red, scaly plaques and itching of psoriasis. So far the treatment lowered disease signs and inflammation in mouse models, and this project will measure how the drug distributes in skin and body and how well it controls skin inflammation in preclinical tests. The team will run pharmacokinetic and tissue distribution studies and continue efficacy testing in disease models to guide safe dosing. These results are intended to support the move toward early human trials if the preclinical data remain promising.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Adults with plaque psoriasis who prefer or require topical therapy, particularly those who have had tolerability or access issues with systemic biologics.

Not a fit: People with very severe, widespread psoriasis needing systemic biologic therapy or with non-plaque forms like erythrodermic psoriasis may not benefit from a topical-only treatment.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: Could offer a safer, effective topical option that reduces plaques and itching with fewer systemic side effects than some current treatments.

How similar studies have performed: Existing topical steroids and systemic biologics help many people, and this new approach showed promising results in animal studies but has not yet been tested in humans.

Where this research is happening

Blacksburg, UNITED STATES

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Conditions Autoimmune Diseases
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.