Shorter all-oral treatments for Mycobacterium abscessus lung infections

Shorter and more effective oral regimens for M. abscessus pulmonary disease

NIH-funded research Hackensack University Medical Center · NIH-11261782

Developing shorter, all-oral drug combinations to better cure Mycobacterium abscessus lung infections and reduce treatment time and side effects.

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionHackensack University Medical Center NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Hackensack, United States)
Project IDNIH-11261782 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

Researchers will build treatment combinations made entirely of oral drugs, prioritizing fast-killing antibiotics to quickly lower bacterial levels in the lungs. They will screen commonly used and new antibiotic candidates to make sure they work together without blocking the killers. Promising regimens will be tested in lab experiments and a mouse model of M. abscessus lung infection to pick the best options. The goal is to move the best oral combinations toward clinical testing so patients can avoid long, injectable-heavy therapies.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: People with confirmed Mycobacterium abscessus pulmonary disease, especially those who have failed or cannot tolerate current long, partly injectable regimens, are the likely candidates for future trials.

Not a fit: Patients with non–M. abscessus infections (for example other NTM species), or those needing immediate intensive inpatient care, may not benefit from these oral regimens.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this work could shorten treatment courses, avoid intravenous antibiotics, and improve cure rates with fewer side effects.

How similar studies have performed: Existing treatments for M. abscessus have had limited success and cures are uncommon, so creating sterilizing all-oral regimens is a relatively new and much-needed approach that builds on antibiotic-combination experience.

Where this research is happening

Hackensack, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.