Nitroreductase-activated inhibitors to treat mycobacterial infections
Official title: Development of nitroreductase-activated inhibitors to treat mycobacterial infections
Funded at Tarn Biosciences, INC. · NIH-11398283 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A patient-friendly program to develop new nitroreductase-activated drugs for treating drug-susceptible and drug-resistant tuberculosis and non-tuberculous mycobacterial infections.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Tarn Biosciences, INC. NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (East Lansing, United States) |
| Project start | August 21, 2025 |
| Project end | July 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $287,910 |
| NIH project number | 5R41AI194849-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11398283 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with active or latent TB or non-tuberculous mycobacterial infections, including those with drug-resistant strains, could ultimately benefit from future trials.
✕Less likely to help
Early-stage work may not yet translate to patient benefit and is primarily focused on drug development in laboratory and animal models.
What this research studies
This project aims to create a new class of nitroreductase-activated compounds, starting from HC2210, to treat TB and other mycobacterial infections. Researchers will study how these drugs behave in the body and fight mycobacteria, with a focus on improving effectiveness and reducing side effects. The work involves preclinical development and testing in relevant models to advance toward potential clinical use. If successful, these compounds could offer new options for patients with difficult-to-treat TB and NTM infections.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients could gain access to new treatments that work against drug-resistant TB and other mycobacterial infections with potentially better safety and efficacy profiles.
How similar studies have gone: Nitroreductase-activated antimycobacterial compounds are an emerging approach with some precedents, but this exact program is advancing novel agents with potential broader activity against NTMs.
Where this research is happening
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Tarn Biosciences, INC.
East Lansing, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Vrbanac, John James — Tarn Biosciences, INC.
- Study coordinator: Vrbanac, John James
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.