Oral antibiotic for drug-resistant Gram-negative infections
Official title: New oral antibiotics focused on treating MDR Gram-negative infections
Funded at Curza INC · NIH-11135578 · Data updated 2026-11-12
An oral antibiotic being developed to treat people with serious multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacterial infections.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Sbir 2 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Curza INC NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Salt Lake City, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | July 9, 2024 |
| Project end | June 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $1,000,000 |
| NIH project number | 5R44AI186898-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11135578 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People with confirmed or suspected infections caused by multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacteria who have limited or failing standard antibiotic options would be the ideal candidates for future clinical testing.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with infections caused by Gram-positive bacteria, viruses, fungi, or non-infectious conditions are unlikely to benefit from this antibiotic approach.
What this research studies
This project is developing CZ-02, a new oral antibiotic class that attacks a different spot on the bacterial ribosome than current drugs. The team re-engineered a natural compound to make it stable, selective for bacteria, and active against multidrug-resistant Gram-negative pathogens while sparing human cells. Lab tests and animal studies show the compounds can block bacterial protein production and work against resistant bugs without harming mitochondria. The Phase II work aims to advance the best candidates toward becoming an oral medicine for patients with hard-to-treat Gram-negative infections.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Could provide an effective oral treatment option for infections caused by multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacteria that currently have few alternatives.
How similar studies have gone: Related antibiotics target the ribosome, but targeting this unique ribosomal site to produce an oral drug against MDR Gram-negative bacteria is largely novel and has limited prior success in humans.
Where this research is happening
-
Curza INC
Salt Lake City, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Testa, Charles — Curza INC
- Study coordinator: Testa, Charles
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.