New treatment options for infections caused by drug-resistant bacteria
Official title: Novel cyclic boronate Penicillin Binding Protein Inhibitors to eliminate the threat posed by β-lactamases and enable a future treatment option for carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales infections
Funded at Venatorx Pharmaceuticals, INC. · NIH-11073038 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is working on a new type of antibiotic to help treat tough infections caused by bacteria that don't respond to many current medicines, and it could be a great option for patients dealing with these hard-to-treat infections.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Venatorx Pharmaceuticals, INC. NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Malvern, United States) |
| Project start | May 4, 2021 |
| Project end | April 30, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $1,220,775 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AI160269-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11073038 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are patients suffering from infections caused by carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with infections caused by bacteria that are not carbapenem-resistant may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on developing a new class of antibiotics to combat carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales (CRE), which are bacteria that have become resistant to many existing antibiotics. The approach involves creating cyclic boronate compounds that specifically target and inhibit penicillin-binding proteins, which are essential for bacterial cell wall synthesis. By avoiding the mechanisms that current antibiotics cannot overcome, this research aims to provide effective treatment options for infections caused by these resistant bacteria. Patients with serious infections caused by CRE may benefit from this innovative therapy if successful.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new antibiotics that effectively treat infections caused by some of the most dangerous drug-resistant bacteria.
How similar studies have gone: Other research has shown promise in developing new antibiotics targeting resistant bacteria, but this specific approach is novel.
Where this research is happening
-
Venatorx Pharmaceuticals, INC.
Malvern, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Boyd, Steven Armen — Venatorx Pharmaceuticals, INC.
- Study coordinator: Boyd, Steven Armen
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.