Novel Benzyl-Piperidine antifungals to fight hard-to-treat mucormycosis
Official title: Novel Benzyl-Piperidine antifungal agents to treat intractable Mucorales infections
Funded at Microbiotix, INC · NIH-11419678 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A new drug candidate series called Benzyl-Piperidines is being developed to treat invasive mucormycosis, a deadly fungal infection often affecting people with weakened immune systems.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Microbiotix, INC NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Worcester, United States) |
| Project start | September 22, 2025 |
| Project end | August 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $299,381 |
| NIH project number | 5R41AI195240-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11419678 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with mucormycosis or at high risk due to immunosuppression who have limited antifungal options.
✕Less likely to help
People without mucormycosis or without immune suppression are not the target of this research.
What this research studies
This grant supports turning a promising Benzyl-Piperidine compound, MBX-7591, into a safe and effective treatment for mucormycosis by testing its activity in laboratory settings and in animal models. Researchers will advance the compound toward potential clinical use, focusing on potency against Mucorales and safety in vivo. If successful, this work could lead to a much-needed option for patients who have few effective antifungal choices.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients with mucormycosis may gain a new, effective treatment option that could improve survival and outcomes.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work showed strong activity of this compound class in vitro and in a mouse model, signaling potential for human use but still needs clinical validation.
Where this research is happening
-
Microbiotix, INC
Worcester, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Opperman, Timothy J. — Microbiotix, INC
- Study coordinator: Opperman, Timothy J.
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.