Novel endolysins to target Cutibacterium acnes for acne treatment
Official title: Development of novel endolysins targeting Cutibacterium acnes to treat acne vulgaris
Funded at Topaz Biosciences, INC. · NIH-11381883 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A small research grant is developing a highly specific enzyme therapy to kill the acne-causing bacteria without disturbing good skin or gut bacteria.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Sbir 2 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Topaz Biosciences, INC. NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Emeryville, United States) |
| Project start | August 15, 2023 |
| Project end | July 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $576,499 |
| NIH project number | 5R44AR082722-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11381883 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are individuals with acne vulgaris seeking non-antibiotic treatment options and who are interested in participating in early-stage research.
✕Less likely to help
People with acne who need immediate, proven therapies or who are not eligible for early-stage trials may not benefit.
What this research studies
This project aims to create endolysins, enzymes from viruses that can break the cell walls of Cutibacterium acnes, the bacterium linked to acne. Researchers will use a metagenomics approach and a proprietary platform to identify candidates with strong activity, solubility, and specificity for C. acnes. The work focuses on delivering a topical or compatible formulation that avoids broad antibiotic use and reduces resistance concerns. Results could lead to a new, targeted option for people struggling with acne who want alternatives to traditional antibiotics.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients could have a targeted skin therapy that treats acne with fewer side effects and less risk of antibiotic resistance.
How similar studies have gone: Prior work shows that phage-derived endolysins can be highly specific to certain bacteria, but challenges remain in potency and solubility; this project builds on that foundation with focused improvements.
Where this research is happening
-
Topaz Biosciences, INC.
Emeryville, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Liu, Oliver Wei — Topaz Biosciences, INC.
- Study coordinator: Liu, Oliver Wei
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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.