Repurposing Fosamprenavir to Help Older Adults with GERD
Official title: Repurposing Fosamprenavir to Address PPI-Refractory GERD in Older Adults
Funded at Medical College of Wisconsin · NIH-11268079 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A clinician-scientist team is testing a repurposed HIV drug, fosamprenavir, combined with sodium alginate, to relieve persistent GERD symptoms in older adults who don’t respond well to standard acid-suppressing therapy.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Medical College of Wisconsin NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Milwaukee, United States) |
| Project start | September 17, 2026 |
| Project end | August 31, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $628,335 |
| NIH project number | 1R01AG097515-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11268079 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Older adults with GERD who continue to have symptoms or mucosal damage despite PPI therapy.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with GERD well-controlled by PPIs or those who cannot tolerate fosamprenavir may not benefit.
What this research studies
This project targets GERD in older adults, a group at higher risk for ongoing symptoms and esophageal damage despite current treatments. It uses fosamprenavir, the active metabolite of an approved HIV med, together with sodium alginate to stay in the esophagus longer and release the drug where needed. The plan includes lab studies on how the combination sticks to esophageal tissue, converts to the active form, and protects the mucosa, followed by tests of anti-inflammatory effects in patient-derived tissues. The researchers will look at pharmacology, mechanism, and early clinical signals to see if this approach could offer a new option for those not helped by PPIs.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to a new, targeted therapy for PPI-refractory GERD in older adults, potentially reducing symptoms and esophageal damage.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research supports repurposing approved drugs for new GI indications, but this exact combination is novel for GERD.
Where this research is happening
-
Medical College of Wisconsin
Milwaukee, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Johnston, Nikki — Medical College of Wisconsin
- Study coordinator: Johnston, Nikki
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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.