# Teixobactin Development for Anthrax

> **NIH NIH R44** · NOVOBIOTIC PHARMACEUTICALS, LLC · 2022 · $992,770

## Abstract

ABSTRACT
 The goal of this project is to continue developing teixobactin (TXB) as an antibiotic to
combat weaponized anthrax. This work will be done in parallel to an ongoing preclinical
development program, which is advancing TXB for treating infections caused by other serious
pathogens such as methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). TXB has shown
excellent efficacy in several animal models of infection, including a rabbit model of inhalation
anthrax recently run at the University of Texas Medical Branch (Galveston, TX). Due to TXB’s
unusual mechanism of action – binding two different bacterial cell wall targets, neither of which is
a protein – TXB represents an example of a compound that is exceptionally free of resistance
development and thus is an excellent candidate as a countermeasure for anthrax.
 The work in this grant will include the following Specific Aims: Aim 1 will provide at least
50 grams of non-cGMP teixobactin to fulfill all studies in the proposal. In addition, at least 200
grams of cGMP material will be produced at a contract manufacturer for planned future studies.
Aim 2 will focus on the following studies to further understand TXB’s in vitro properties: (a) MIC
testing against a panel of key B. anthracis isolates, including isolates resistant to current anthrax
drugs; (b) determine B. anthracis resistance frequency to teixobactin; and (c) protein binding
studies using rabbit, nonhuman primate (NHP), and human serum to determine free drug levels.
Aim 3 will determine the minimal therapeutic TXB dose in the rabbit anthrax efficacy model, with
associated pharmacokinetic (PK) profiling and histopathology. The information in Aim 3, in
addition to the toxicology, safety and PK/PD studies being run in parallel with this project, will help
inform NHP and human dosing.
 At the conclusion of this grant, TXB will be prepared to enter a GLP-compliant, NHP
inhalation anthrax study and a Phase I clinical study, all in support of FDA approval for treating
anthrax under the Animal Rule.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10436153
- **Project number:** 5R44AI152657-03
- **Recipient organization:** NOVOBIOTIC PHARMACEUTICALS, LLC
- **Principal Investigator:** Dallas Hughes
- **Activity code:** R44 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $992,770
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2020-06-15 → 2024-05-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10436153

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10436153, Teixobactin Development for Anthrax (5R44AI152657-03). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10436153. Licensed CC0.

---

*[NIH grants dataset](/datasets/nih-grants) · CC0 1.0*