Federal Grant Award Summary

Door Pharmaceuticals received a $314,363 Project Grant from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) under the Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research program (CFDA 93.855), awarded July 8, 2026, with a completion date of June 30, 2027. The grant supports the development and advancement of hepatitis B virus (HBV) antiviral molecules designed to suppress both viral replication and hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) production. The research focuses on isolating and optimizing small molecule compounds that bind to the dimeric form of the HBV core protein (HBc), which recruits epigenetic factors to the covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA) that perpetuates chronic HBV infection. This mechanism-based approach aims to achieve dual therapeutic effects: reduction of viral protein expression and potential restoration of immune system responsiveness to HBsAg.

The deliverable products are antiviral candidate molecules with pharmacological properties suitable for clinical testing. By targeting HBc rather than the 120-dimer viral capsid, the approach provides disease specificity and reduces off-target effects. Success in this project could contribute toward a functional cure for chronic HBV—a finite treatment that eliminates both viral and HBsAg expression—addressing a global pandemic affecting approximately 300 million people annually.