Platform to block collagen production and create new anti-fibrosis drugs
Official title: Platform technology to identify and develop first-in-class anti-fibrotic therapeutics through inhibition of collagen CP4H
Funded at Adiutrix Therapeutics · NIH-11417187 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A new program aims to develop first-in-class drugs that stop scar tissue from forming by targeting collagen production in fibrosis affecting lungs, skin, kidneys, and gut.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Adiutrix Therapeutics NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project start | September 17, 2024 |
| Project end | August 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $1,102,737 |
| NIH project number | 5R42HL176297-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11417187 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, systemic sclerosis, chronic kidney disease with fibrosis, or Crohn’s-associated intestinal fibrosis may benefit from future therapies developed through this platform.
✕Less likely to help
The immediate research may not benefit patients until a specific drug candidate is developed and tested in clinical trials.
What this research studies
This grant focuses on creating platform technology to identify and develop therapies that prevent excessive collagen buildup, which drives fibrosis in multiple organs. Researchers will explore a mast cell–mediated pathway in addition to the known TGF-β–driven mechanism to curb collagen synthesis. The work combines biochemical assays, binding site analyses, and biologic assays to discover and optimize inhibitors that are effective across fibrotic diseases. By advancing a first-in-class approach, the project seeks therapies that could improve survival and quality of life for patients with IPF, scleroderma, CKD-related fibrosis, and Crohn’s-related intestinal fibrosis.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients with fibrotic diseases could have new treatments that slow or halt disease progression and reduce organ damage.
How similar studies have gone: Previous approaches targeting TGF-β–driven collagen synthesis have shown limited efficacy, making this broader, dual-path strategy a novel approach with potential for meaningful impact.
Where this research is happening
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Adiutrix Therapeutics
New York, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lennox, Ronald William — Adiutrix Therapeutics
- Study coordinator: Lennox, Ronald William
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.