Metronidazole

Omega-3 and low-dose aspirin matched the effectiveness of antibiotics in a year-long study of patients with severe gum disease, with both approaches helping about 58% reach the treatment goal. The unexpected result could point to a new way to treat some patients while reducing reliance on antibiotics and the growing problem of antibiotic resistance.A combination of omega-3 and low-dose acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) performed about as well as antibiotics in a yearlong study of people with severe periodontitis, raising the possibility of an alternative treatment for some patients. The research was conducted by scientists affiliated with Albert Einstein Israelite Hospital, Guarulhos University (UNG), the University of Taubaté (UNITAU), and the Ribeirão Preto School of Dentistry at USP (FORP-USP) in Brazil, along with Harvard University in the United States. The findings were published in the Journal of Periodontology. Researchers say the results could eventually help reduce antibiotic use in selected patients, an important consideration as bacterial resistance becomes an increasingly serious global health problem. Severe Periodontitis Can Damage Bone and Teeth Supported by FAPESP (projects 20/05874-2 and 20/05875-9), the clinical study included 109 people with advanced periodontitis who were followed for one year. Periodontitis is a chronic inflammatory disease that develops when bacteria accumulate below the gumline and damage the tissues that hold teeth in place. In advanced cases, the disease can destroy supporting bone, loosen teeth, and eventually cause tooth loss. "Patients with severe disease have very deep pockets, which act as reservoirs for bacteria associated with the disease. It's a very challenging condition to treat," says dental surgeon Nídia Cristina Castro dos Santos, the first author of the study and a professor and researcher at Einstein. Researchers Compared Four Treatment Strategies The participants were randomly divided into four groups. Everyone received subgingival instrumentation, popularly known as scaling, which is a standard treatment for periodontitis. The procedure removes bacterial deposits and other material from below the gums. What differed among the groups was the additional treatment they received. Participants in the control group were given placebo versions of the antibiotics, omega-3, and ASA, packaged in capsules that looked like the active treatments. A second group received the antibiotics metronidazole and amoxicillin. This combination has some of the strongest scientific evidence supporting its use in severe periodontitis. Patients took the antibiotics three times per day for 14 days. A third group received three grams of omega-3 each day along with a daily dose of aspirin for six months. The fourth group received both approaches, taking antibiotics for two weeks while also following the omega-3 and ASA regimen for six months. Researchers assessed the participants again after three, six, and twelve months. Omega-3 and Aspirin Nearly Matched Antibiotics After one year, about 58% of patients treated with antibiotics had reached the clinical target established by the researchers. That goal was defined as having no more than four remaining deep periodontal pockets. The omega-3 and ASA group achieved a nearly identical result, with 57.7% of participants reaching the same target. The difference compared with standard treatment alone was substantial. Among patients who received scaling plus placebo, only 23.1% met the clinical goal. Surprisingly, using antibiotics together with omega-3 and ASA did not produce any additional benefit over either strategy alone. "The use of antibiotics isn't considered the gold standard of treatment. Although metronidazole and amoxicillin yield good results in the most severe cases, their use should be evaluated on a case-by-case basis due to risks related to bacterial resistance and possible adverse effects," says Castro dos Santos. Earlier Research Pointed to Omega-3's Potential The findings build on previous work examining omega-3 and inflammation in periodontal disease. In an earlier FAPESP-supported study published in Scientific Reports, researchers found that omega-3 supplementation reduced inflammation and bone loss associated with periodontal disease in rats. The effect was particularly noticeable when supplementation was combined with physical exercise. Because that research used an animal model, it could not establish whether the same effects would occur in people. However, it provided evidence that omega-3 might influence inflammatory processes involved in oral disease. Helping the Body Resolve Inflammation According to Castro, omega-3 works differently from conventional anti-inflammatory medications. Rather than simply blocking particular inflammatory pathways, omega-3 can contribute to the production of molecules that help the body naturally bring inflammation to an end and promote tissue repair. Low-dose ASA was included because it can enhance the production of these inflammation-resolving molecules. Researchers therefore suspected that combining omega-3 with ASA might help the body gain better control over the persistent inflammation associated with periodontitis. "We imagined that the combination of antibiotics and omega-3 would be most effective in controlling periodontitis in these patients. We also believed that the results for the group that used omega-3 with ASA would be slightly lower than those for the antibiotic group. The result was surprising because the two therapies performed very similarly, paving the way for it to become a treatment option for these patients," says Castro. Benefits Continued After Treatment Ended The researchers were also struck by how long the apparent benefits lasted. Participants who had taken omega-3 and ASA continued to show results similar to those seen at the end of treatment even six months after supplementation had stopped. According to Castro, the persistence of the effect raises the possibility that changing the way the body responds to inflammation could produce longer-lasting benefits. Researchers are still investigating exactly how this might happen. For dental surgeon Magda Feres, the lead author of the study and a full professor at the Harvard School of Dental Medicine and the Graduate Program in Dentistry at UNG, the results suggest that targeting the inflammatory response could provide another option for certain patients. "The combination of omega-3 and low-dose aspirin achieved clinical benefits comparable to those of the metronidazole and amoxicillin protocol, opening up a real alternative for those who can't take antibiotics, especially patients with allergies or intolerance to these medications," she says. A Possible Way to Reduce Antibiotic Use The potential to treat some cases without antibiotics is particularly relevant because antibiotic resistance is considered one of the major threats to global public health. When bacteria are repeatedly exposed to antibiotics, strains that can survive the drugs may spread, making infections more difficult to treat. Reducing unnecessary antibiotic use is therefore an important public health goal. "Demonstrating that it's possible to treat severe periodontitis by modulating the body's own response is new and relevant information that helps preserve antibiotics for when they are truly indispensable," says Feres. More Evidence Is Needed Despite the promising results, the researchers stress that omega-3 and aspirin should not yet be viewed as a routine replacement for antibiotics in severe periodontitis. The clinical trial included patients who did not have significant systemic or oral diseases. Additional studies will be needed to determine whether the findings hold true in broader and more diverse populations, and to establish which patients are most likely to benefit from each treatment strategy. Researchers are also conducting microbiological analyses to understand what happens to bacteria inside periodontal pockets during treatment. Preliminary findings suggest that the therapies may reduce bacterial species associated with periodontal disease while increasing microorganisms linked to healthier gums. "It's an important step forward, but not the end of the story. Therefore, the message is one of cautious optimism: we have a promising, scientifically plausible alternative to antibiotics in select cases. Routine replacement will require more evidence," she concludes.

MIAMI, FL — Aug. 17, 2026 — TAXIS Pharmaceuticals, a clinical-stage company at the forefront of developing investigational therapies to treat multidrug-resistant bacterial infections and combat antimicrobial resistance (AMR), announced today that it has received a Phase I Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grant from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), one of the institutes of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The grant is valued at approximately $562,037, with the potential for up to $3 million in additional Phase II funding upon successful achievement of program milestones. The grant will support the development of TAXIS Pharmaceuticals’ investigational 3-alkoxy benzamide class of narrow-spectrum FtsZ inhibitors designed to combat Clostridioides difficile (C. difficile), including toxigenic and hypervirulent strains associated with severe disease and high recurrence rates. The award represents the company’s third NIH SBIR grant in 27 months and will support continued advancement of its investigational FtsZ inhibitor program, which targets one of the most significant unmet needs in infectious disease. “This NIH award further validates our scientific approach and strengthens our efforts to develop innovative therapies for some of the most challenging bacterial infections facing patients today,” says Gregory G. Mario, MBA, President and CEO of TAXIS Pharmaceuticals. “Receiving our third NIH SBIR grant in just over two years reflects both the quality of our science and the urgent need for new therapeutic options to address antimicrobial resistance and serious infectious diseases.“ C. difficile infection (CDI) is responsible for an estimated 500,000 illnesses and 30,000 deaths in the United States each year.(1) Hypervirulent strains have contributed to increasingly severe disease, while recurrence remains a major concern for patients and healthcare providers. Current frontline therapies, including metronidazole, vancomycin, and fidaxomicin, are broad-spectrum antibiotics that can disrupt the gut microbiome, potentially creating conditions that allow C. difficile to re-establish and contribute to recurrent infection.(2) TAXIS Pharmaceuticals’ investigational FtsZ inhibitors are designed to selectively target toxigenic and hypervirulent C. difficile strains while preserving beneficial gut bacteria. FtsZ, an essential bacterial cell division protein not found in human cells, represents an attractive target for antibiotic development. The company’s proprietary 3-alkoxy benzamide scaffold has demonstrated potent activity against hypervirulent and drug-resistant C. difficile strains in preclinical studies. By preserving the integrity of the gut microbiome, TAXIS’ investigational approach aims to address one of the key challenges associated with CDI treatment: recurrence. The company believes this differentiated strategy may offer an important advancement over existing broad-spectrum therapies. “Our investigational FtsZ inhibitor program represents a novel approach to treating C. difficile infections by selectively targeting pathogenic strains while preserving the beneficial bacteria that support a healthy gut microbiome,” says Ajit Parhi, PhD, Chief Scientific Officer of TAXIS Pharmaceuticals and Principal Investigator on the project. “This NIH grant will allow us to advance critical preclinical development activities and further evaluate the potential of this program.“ In May of 2025, TAXIS received a $2.9 million NIH grant to advance development of its dihydrofolate reductase inhibitors (DHFRIs) for multidrug-resistant gonorrhea. In May of 2024, TAXIS received a $2.67 million NIH grant to support development of its investigational efflux pump inhibitors (EPIs) designed to restore the effectiveness of existing antibiotics against resistant bacterial infections. Together with its FtsZ inhibitor platform, these programs reflect TAXIS’ broader mission to develop innovative solutions to address the escalating global burden of antimicrobial resistance. Research mentioned in this press release was supported by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases of the National Institutes of Health Under Award Number 1R43AI197297-01. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the views of the National Institutes of Health. About TAXIS Pharmaceuticals TAXIS Pharmaceuticals is a clinical-stage company developing new classes of anti-resistance therapies to treat life-threatening, multidrug-resistant bacterial infections. Our investigational drug candidates—including efflux pump inhibitors, dihydrofolate reductase inhibitors, and FtsZ inhibitors—aim to combat antimicrobial resistance (AMR). TAXIS’ investigational therapies currently target several different bacterial pathogens, many of which are on the World Health Organization Priority Pathogen List. Our mission is to reduce and potentially eliminate the threat of current and emergent antimicrobial resistant bacteria across a wide range of infectious diseases and save lives. To learn more, visit taxispharma.com. Forward-Looking Statements Investors and stakeholders should be aware that this press release contains forward-looking statements and information. Forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that may cause our or our industry’s actual results, levels or activity, performance or achievements to be materially different from those anticipated by such statements. The use of words such as “may”, “might”, “will”, “should”, “could”, “expect”, “plan”, “anticipate”, “believe”, “estimate”, “project”, “intend”, “future”, “potential” or “continue”, and other similar expressions are intended to identify forward looking statements. For example, all statements we make regarding (i) the initiation, timing, cost, progress and results of our preclinical and clinical studies and our research and development programs, (ii) our ability to advance product candidates into, and successfully complete, clinical studies, (iii) the timing or likelihood of regulatory filings and approvals, (iv) our ability to develop, manufacture and commercialize our product candidates and to improve the manufacturing process, (v) the rate and degree of market acceptance of our product candidates, (vi) the size and growth potential of the markets for our product candidates and our ability to serve those markets, and (vii) our expectations regarding our ability to obtain and maintain intellectual property protection for our product candidates, are forward looking. All forward-looking statements are based on current estimates, assumptions and expectations by our management that, although we believe to be reasonable, are inherently uncertain. All forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those that we expected. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which it was made. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. This press release is not, and nothing in it should be construed as, an offer, invitation or recommendation in respect of our securities, or an offer, invitation or recommendation to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy, any of our securities in any jurisdiction. Neither this press release nor anything in it shall form the basis of any contract or commitment. This press release is not intended to be relied upon as advice to investors or potential investors and does not take into account the investment objectives, financial situation or needs of any investor. References: 1. Feuerstadt P, Theriault N, Tillotson G. “The burden of CDI in the United States: a multifactorial challenge.” BMC Infect Dis. 2023 Mar 7;23(1):132. Accessed 8 June 2026. 2. Sehgal K, Khanna S. “Gut microbiome and Clostridioides difficile infection: a closer look at the microscopic interface.” Ther Adv Gastroenterol. 2021 Feb 23;14:1756284821994736. Accessed 8 June 2026. Media Contact Jennifer Ringler, TAXIS Pharmaceuticals, 1 973-647-5004, jringler@readhealthy.net, https://taxispharma.com/ TXA709, TAXIS’ lead product candidate, is a novel target – first-ever product to target FtsZ proteins. Oral anti-MRSA agent that completed a Phase I clinical trial with no serious adverse events. Ongoing research focuses on disrupting bacterial cell wall architecture to address drug resistance mechanisms. TXA709 is developed as an anti-resistance drug for combination therapy with obsolete antibiotics. Targets the FtsZ bacterial cell division protein, offering potential for future development against Gram-negative bacteria. Designated a Qualified Infectious Disease Product (QIDP) by the FDA in September 2016. Regulatory incentives include eligibility for Fast Track designation, priority review, and extended marketing exclusivity under the GAIN Act.