# Single application thixotropic antibiotic delivery systems for otitis externa

> **NIH NIH R42** · PROMILIAD BIOPHARMA, INC. · 2020 · $751,069

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
Outer ear infections (otitis externa or OE) affect an estimated 10% of people in their lifetime, with associated
healthcare costs amounting to over $500 million annually. The pathology is mostly treatable in the general
population with topical antibiotics regimes, and can be supplemented in severe cases with systemic counterparts.
However, incorrect application or non-compliance with administration schedule of antibiotics leads to infection
persistence, recurrence and potentially, development of antibiotic resistant bacterial strains. In diabetic or elderly
patients, the infection can be life threatening as it can progress into necrotizing or malignant otitis externa (MOE),
with severe health consequences. In recent years, the incidence rate of MOE has seen a significant increase
and has been associated with antibiotic resistant bacterial strains. Therefore, there is a critical need to develop
safe and effective therapies for the treatment of OE and prevention of MOE. Our approach to this problem is the
development of ThixOtic, a proprietary drug delivery system that would enable the one-time point-of-care
application of drugs to effectively treat the infection and diminish treatment non-compliance related risk of
antibiotic resistance development, infection recurrence and complications.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10138907
- **Project number:** 2R42DC017641-02A1
- **Recipient organization:** PROMILIAD BIOPHARMA, INC.
- **Principal Investigator:** Monica Andrea Serban
- **Activity code:** R42 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $751,069
- **Award type:** 2
- **Project period:** 2018-09-01 → 2022-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10138907

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10138907, Single application thixotropic antibiotic delivery systems for otitis externa (2R42DC017641-02A1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10138907. Licensed CC0.

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