Systemic Fungal Infections

Survival rates for those who have developed systemic Aspergillus or Candida infections are as low as 20% and 40% respectively. In many cases, cryptococcosis is the most common opportunistic infection in HIV/AIDS patients. Conventional first-line fungicidal treatments for systemic fungal infections are not always successful and are associated with a range of serious and potentially fatal complications and side-effects. Total real costs incurred in treating deep seated fungal infections can run to tens of thousands of pounds per patient, with no guarantee of the treatment’s success.

NovaBiotics’ systemic antifungal peptide (NP339) has demonstrated fungicidal activity against all major clinically relevant Candida species (C. albicans, C. glabrata, C. krusei, C. parapsilosis and C. tropicalis), including those resistant (innate or acquired) to conventional systemic antifungal therapies.

NovaBiotics’ technology is also active against Aspergillus niger and Cryptococcus neoformans. The antifungal potential of NovaBiotics’ peptides against other relevant systemic fungal pathogens such as Aspergillus spp and Fusarium spp etc. is currently under investigation.

NovaBiotics’ systemic antifungal peptide technology will be developed for intravenous administration in the first instance, but the physicochemical and biological properties of the compounds are such that there is also the potential for oral and topical formulations to be developed in parallel (a major USP over most other antifungal agents).

When the host immune system is impaired, opportunistic pathogens can cause severe life-threatening infections. Patients in the intensive therapy unit (ITU) are often immunocompormised as a result of chemotherapy or the administration of immunosuppressant drugs following solid organ transplant and thus have a significant risk of infection. Systemic or deep-seated fungal infections pose such a threat.

Patients often have indwelling medical devices such as catheters, central venous and arterial lines and respiratory tubes and drains all of which proved an ideal entry for life-threatening infectious agents such as Candida, Aspergillus and Cryptococcus, which then disseminate around the body. Nosocomial bloodstream infections caused by Candida species are estimated to cost in excess of $1 billion per annum in the USA alone. There is an immediate need to provide a solution to this massive clinical problem.

Registered in Scotland No. SC272344. Registered Address: NovaBiotics Ltd, Cruickshank Building, Craibstone, Aberdeen, AB21 9TR, UK

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