Topical probiotics to replace the missing skin inhibitor in Netherton syndrome
Official title: Skin probiotics to treat Netherton Syndrome
Funded at Resvita Bio, INC. · NIH-11196097 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project uses a harmless, engineered skin bacterium to continuously deliver missing LEKTI protein fragments to people with Netherton syndrome.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Sbir 2 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Resvita Bio, INC. NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Berkeley, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | September 15, 2022 |
| Project end | August 30, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $703,229 |
| NIH project number | 5R44AR082240-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11196097 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates would be people (children or adults) diagnosed with Netherton syndrome who can tolerate topical treatments and are eligible for site visits and monitoring.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without confirmed SPINK5-related Netherton syndrome, with active uncontrolled skin infections, or with known allergies to the bacterial strain may not receive benefit from this therapy.
What this research studies
If you have Netherton syndrome, this work aims to put a safe, engineered bacterium on the skin so it can make and release short-lived LEKTI fragments that reduce harmful enzyme activity. The team already showed topical application was feasible in early work and will now finish developing the final cell therapy product. They will test the therapy in diseased lab-grown skin and mouse models to show it can correct the enzyme imbalance. These data will support a pre-IND meeting with the FDA and preparation for future human trials.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the approach could provide a long-lasting topical treatment that reduces skin breakdown and infections by restoring missing protease inhibition.
How similar studies have gone: Early-phase (Phase I SBIR) work by the team showed topical application was feasible and safe, but using engineered skin probiotics for chronic protein delivery is a novel approach with limited prior clinical precedent.
Where this research is happening
-
Resvita Bio, INC.
Berkeley, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Zargar, Amin — Resvita Bio, INC.
- Study coordinator: Zargar, Amin
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.