Tampere University researchers develop a novel anti infective drug for the market
Mycobacteria pose a significant challenge for medical science because they form a biofilm that protects them from the body’s immune system during infection. A biofilm is a community of bacteria that produces a protective extracellular matrix within which the bacteria also begin to transform and differentiate. The transformation leads to bacterial populations that tolerate antimicrobial agents even at high doses.
This is one reason why chronic mycobacterial infections are difficult to treat. Treatments tend to be long and taxing for patients, and they are not very effective.
The aim of the Louhi project is to discover and dismantle barriers that hamper the treatment of biofilm‑related infections. To achieve this, the researchers are using compounds that degrade the biofilm structure protecting the bacteria, making them more susceptible to conventional antimicrobial agents and to the immune system. This approach represents an entirely new way of thinking.
“Traditional drug development has not taken this aspect into account. With degrading agents, even shorter courses of antimicrobial drugs may be sufficient, and treatments become more effective. This spares patients from the adverse effects of medicines and reduces the use of antibiotics, benefiting both patients and the environment. Shorter and more effective treatments also slow the spread of antimicrobial resistance,” says Professor Mataleena Parikka from the Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology at Tampere University.
Antimicrobial resistance is also a problem in Finland
Alongside research, the Louhi project is preparing to commercialise this new type of medicine. The researchers are producing preclinical evidence of the efficacy of the first degrading agents so that they can eventually be brought to clinical trials and, ultimately, into patient use.
Nanoparticles play an important role in drug development. Their development is led by Research Director Timo Laaksonen from the Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences at Tampere University. The goal is to develop new pharmaceutical formulations that support the efficient delivery of degrading agents to the affected tissue.
“Different types of nanocarriers can be used, for example, to improve the poor absorption of drug molecules into the bloodstream caused by their low solubility. This makes it possible to utilise molecules that might at first seem to perform rather poorly or to require large doses for a sufficient amount to reach the actual diseased tissue. At best, nanocarriers can therefore reduce the required drug doses and consequently lessen any potentially difficult side effects,” Laaksonen says.
The new treatment concept can also be applied to other chronic infectious diseases. In the long run, it may provide a foundation for the more effective treatment of various chronic biofilm‑related infections, offering hope to patients who do not benefit from current treatments.
“Our project is a fine example of how long‑term basic research can lead to a genuinely useful invention. The rise of antimicrobial resistance is a major threat and an already existing problem in Europe and in Finland, making solutions that address this issue very valuable now and in the future,” Parikka points out.
In the Business Finland-funded Louhi project, Postdoctoral Researcher Milka Hammarén leads the preparation of commercialisation. Mataleena Parikka and Timo Laaksonen are responsible for the applied research. Professor Vesa Hytönen is the responsible project director. The project began in January 2026 and will continue until the end of 2027.
Further information
Mataleena Parikka
mataleena.parikka [at] tuni.fi (mataleena[dot]parikka[at]tuni[dot]fi)
+359 50 437 7400
Timo Laaksonen
timo.laaksonen [at] tuni.fi (timo[dot]laaksonen[at]tuni[dot]fi)
+358 50 301 6642
