{"id":1969,"date":"2015-09-29T12:56:24","date_gmt":"2015-09-29T16:56:24","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/allphasepharma.com\/dir\/?p=1969"},"modified":"2015-09-29T12:56:24","modified_gmt":"2015-09-29T16:56:24","slug":"two-new-antifungals-presented-at-icaac-san-diego","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/allphasepharma.com\/dir\/2015\/09\/29\/1969\/two-new-antifungals-presented-at-icaac-san-diego\/","title":{"rendered":"Two New Antifungals Presented at ICAAC San Diego"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"ICAAC<\/a><\/p>\n

As noticed by many other colleagues, ICAAC 2015 was a shadow of its former self.\u00a0 Few participants overall, fewer posters, and even fewer exhibitors. \u00a0Reviewing the posters, there were relatively\u00a0few from industry, most came from university or small research labs.\u00a0 In a way, ICAAC 2015 was a true reflection of the State of Affairs in anti-infective drug development: it felt like Atlantic City without casinos, or Detroit without car industry: a bit depressing.<\/p>\n

Two new antifungals deserve attention.\u00a0 A new start-up, F2G Ltd., presented data on their novel\u00a0compound (F-901318) which is active against molds, i.e., Aspergillus, Scedosporium and Fusarium.\u00a0 We are told that MICs against aspergillus sp. are all in the 0.01 mg\/L range which is excellent but given the technical issues with susceptibility testing in molds it needs confirmation and correlation with in vivo<\/em> data.\u00a0 It has a novel MoA by inhibiting\u00a0the dihydroorotate dehydrogenase (DHODH) enzyme. \u00a0Fungal selectivity is good and fungicidal activity was seen in 2 animal infection models.\u00a0 It is absorbed well enough (>45%) to make oral delivery feasible. \u00a0In addition, it also has a long plasma t\u00bd<\/sub> (20-30 hrs) and good lung penetration which is important for the obvious reasons.<\/p>\n

F-901318 is in Phase 1 and some 80 patients \/ probands\u00a0were studied so far.\u00a0 I am not so convinced that the drug is totally free of safety issues; the presentation was just a bit too uncritical\u00a0in that respect. \u00a0For instance, we were told neither about the NoAEL from preclinical studies nor about any target organ toxicity at maximum tolerated doses (MTD).\u00a0 Hence, the jury is still out on the safety of this drug.\u00a0 Nonetheless, there is much to like about F-901318.<\/p>\n

Another poster caught my eye.\u00a0 A new formulation of amphotericin B (MAT-2203) developed by Matinas BioPharma makes oral delivery possible.\u00a0 This new liposomal formulation of amphotericin (the company calls it \u201cencochleated\u201d AmB) has seemingly made possible a trifecta: oral absorption, macrophage targeting, and specific organ delivery.\u00a0 Of interest, even pulmonary delivery was achieved, something that other liposomal preparations had trouble with (most were only distributed by\u00a0the RES system to\u00a0liver and spleen).\u00a0 The drug is ready to go into Phase 2 later this year; it has recently been granted QIDP status by FDA.<\/p>\n

Did I mention that MAT-2203 is also claimed to be less toxic than amphotericin B deoxycholate?\u00a0 Well, let\u2019s cross our fingers on this one and wait for\u00a0Phase 2 data from comparative studies. \u00a0It’s\u00a0early days and\u00a0the bubble of optimism may\u00a0still pop any time as data accumulate.<\/p>\n

Obviously, there is still much good research going on out there.\u00a0 We will\u00a0continue to follow these promising drug candidates at the next ICAAC. \u00a0Well, there won\u2019t be any more ICAAC the way it used to be; instead, there will be a new conference called “ASM Microbe”<\/span>.\u00a0 Good bye, ICAAC, we will miss you.\u00a0 You were a great venue for education and personal meetings. \u00a0And a lot of fun, too.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

As noticed by many other colleagues, ICAAC 2015 was a shadow of its former self.\u00a0 Few participants overall, fewer posters, and even fewer exhibitors. \u00a0Reviewing the posters, there were relatively\u00a0few from industry, most came from university or small research labs.\u00a0 In a way, ICAAC 2015 was a true reflection of Continue reading Two New Antifungals Presented at ICAAC San Diego<\/span>→<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1972,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[19,227,3],"tags":[403,1339,650,1346,1352,1341,1351,5,1347,1344,1338,1336,1337,1350,1342,1348,1335,1345,1349,1343],"class_list":["post-1969","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-qidp_antibiotic","category-recent_literature","category-the_news","tag-antibiotic-blog","tag-asm-microbe","tag-aspergillus","tag-dihydroorotate-dehydrogenase","tag-encochleated-amphotericin","tag-f-901318","tag-f2f-ltd","tag-fda","tag-fungicidal","tag-fusarium","tag-icaac","tag-liposomal-amphotericin","tag-mat-2203","tag-matinas-biopharma","tag-mold-infection","tag-new-antifungal-class","tag-oral-amphotericin","tag-orotimide","tag-res-system","tag-scedosporium"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/allphasepharma.com\/dir\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/ICAAC-2015-slider.jpg?fit=640%2C180&ssl=1","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p4KWFr-vL","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":975,"url":"https:\/\/allphasepharma.com\/dir\/2014\/10\/01\/975\/whats-in-a-name-would-carbavance-still-smell-as-sweet\/","url_meta":{"origin":1969,"position":0},"title":"What\u2019s in a Name?\u00a0 Would \u2018Carbavance\u2019 Still Smell as Sweet?","author":"Harald","date":"October 1, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"Since the publication of a series of posters at ICAAC 2014, we finally know what\u2019s hidden behind the \u2018Carbavance\u2019 name.\u00a0 \u2018Carbavance\u2019 stands for the combination of meropenem with the B-lactamase inhibitor RPX7009 which The Medicines Company (TMC) inlicensed from Rempex Pharmaceuticals a few years ago.\u00a0 This is the \u2018Carbavance\u2019 which\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "QIDP Antibiotics"","block_context":{"text":"QIDP Antibiotics","link":"https:\/\/allphasepharma.com\/dir\/category\/qidp_antibiotic\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/allphasepharma.com\/dir\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/3Roses-slider.jpg?fit=640%2C200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/allphasepharma.com\/dir\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/3Roses-slider.jpg?fit=640%2C200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/allphasepharma.com\/dir\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/3Roses-slider.jpg?fit=640%2C200&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":1958,"url":"https:\/\/allphasepharma.com\/dir\/2015\/09\/24\/1958\/after-icaac-some-more-thoughts-on-eravacycline-in-cuti-and-ignite-2\/","url_meta":{"origin":1969,"position":1},"title":"After ICAAC: Some More Thoughts on Eravacycline in cUTI and IGNITE-2","author":"Harald","date":"September 24, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"When a well-designed pivotal Phase 3 trial fails to show NI, it demands an explanation.\u00a0 While awaiting the company\u2019s analysis of the data, many possible explanations are bandied about.\u00a0 So it was not surprising that the eravacycline cUTI study (IGNITE-2) was mentioned quite often during ICAAC 2015, in sessions and\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "QIDP Antibiotics"","block_context":{"text":"QIDP Antibiotics","link":"https:\/\/allphasepharma.com\/dir\/category\/qidp_antibiotic\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Erava2blog copy","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/allphasepharma.com\/dir\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/Erava2blog-copy.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/allphasepharma.com\/dir\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/Erava2blog-copy.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/allphasepharma.com\/dir\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/Erava2blog-copy.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/allphasepharma.com\/dir\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/Erava2blog-copy.jpg?resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/allphasepharma.com\/dir\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/Erava2blog-copy.jpg?resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":1079,"url":"https:\/\/allphasepharma.com\/dir\/2014\/10\/16\/1079\/nikkomycins-are-finally-getting-some-respect\/","url_meta":{"origin":1969,"position":2},"title":"Nikkomycins Are Finally Getting Some Respect","author":"Harald","date":"October 16, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"Besides azoles, candins and the polyene class of antifungals there is not much to select from when it comes to systemic fungal infections.\u00a0 Until the recent arrival of voriconazole and posaconazole, infections caused by molds always required amphotericin B to control.\u00a0 Only for Candida several good treatments exist on the\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "QIDP Antibiotics"","block_context":{"text":"QIDP Antibiotics","link":"https:\/\/allphasepharma.com\/dir\/category\/qidp_antibiotic\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/allphasepharma.com\/dir\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/cocci-slider.jpg?fit=640%2C200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/allphasepharma.com\/dir\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/cocci-slider.jpg?fit=640%2C200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/allphasepharma.com\/dir\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/cocci-slider.jpg?fit=640%2C200&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":5569,"url":"https:\/\/allphasepharma.com\/dir\/2025\/10\/16\/5569\/the-antifungal-landscape-1\/","url_meta":{"origin":1969,"position":3},"title":"The Antifungal Landscape – 1","author":"Harald","date":"October 16, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"Some newer azoles are still in development, but most only target candidiasis.\u00a0 Many years ago we saw development of nikkomycin (Nik Z), a drug mainly for coccidioidomycosis (Valley Fever).\u00a0 It has no appreciable activity against candida or aspergillus.\u00a0 Then there is ibrexafungerp, a promising new agent against C. albicans and\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Recent Literature"","block_context":{"text":"Recent Literature","link":"https:\/\/allphasepharma.com\/dir\/category\/recent_literature\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/allphasepharma.com\/dir\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/antigungals-table.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/allphasepharma.com\/dir\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/antigungals-table.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/allphasepharma.com\/dir\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/antigungals-table.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":2396,"url":"https:\/\/allphasepharma.com\/dir\/2016\/03\/23\/2396\/the-cresemba-candidemia-gamble-rien-ne-va-plus\/","url_meta":{"origin":1969,"position":4},"title":"The Cresemba Candidemia Gamble \u2013 Rien Ne Va Plus","author":"Harald","date":"March 23, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"Isavuconazole is a potent triazole; like Voriconazole, it has garnered an indication for invasive aspergillosis. However, it failed where other azole antifungals succeeded: in a pivotal trial, not yet published, the drug was inferior to Caspofungin in the treatment of invasive candidiasis\/candidemia in non-neutropenic patients\u00a0[1]. To provide some background: in\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "QIDP Antibiotics"","block_context":{"text":"QIDP Antibiotics","link":"https:\/\/allphasepharma.com\/dir\/category\/qidp_antibiotic\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Crescemba Gamble copy","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/allphasepharma.com\/dir\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/Crescemba-Gamble-copy.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/allphasepharma.com\/dir\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/Crescemba-Gamble-copy.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/allphasepharma.com\/dir\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/Crescemba-Gamble-copy.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":2205,"url":"https:\/\/allphasepharma.com\/dir\/2015\/12\/23\/2205\/qidp-antibiotics-2015-year-end-update\/","url_meta":{"origin":1969,"position":5},"title":"QIDP Antibiotics – 2015 Year-End Update","author":"Harald","date":"December 23, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"Here an updated listing of all QIDP drugs we are aware of as of 12\/24\/2015. Today just\u00a0facts and numbers; we will provide an interpretation of the current landscape in upcoming blogs. There are\u00a058 drugs which garnered QIDP status and these are listed in the Main Table below. With the recent\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "QIDP Antibiotics"","block_context":{"text":"QIDP Antibiotics","link":"https:\/\/allphasepharma.com\/dir\/category\/qidp_antibiotic\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/allphasepharma.com\/dir\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/QIDP-slider.jpg?fit=640%2C200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/allphasepharma.com\/dir\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/QIDP-slider.jpg?fit=640%2C200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/allphasepharma.com\/dir\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/QIDP-slider.jpg?fit=640%2C200&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/allphasepharma.com\/dir\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1969","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/allphasepharma.com\/dir\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/allphasepharma.com\/dir\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/allphasepharma.com\/dir\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/allphasepharma.com\/dir\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1969"}],"version-history":[{"count":8,"href":"https:\/\/allphasepharma.com\/dir\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1969\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1979,"href":"https:\/\/allphasepharma.com\/dir\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1969\/revisions\/1979"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/allphasepharma.com\/dir\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1972"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/allphasepharma.com\/dir\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1969"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/allphasepharma.com\/dir\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1969"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/allphasepharma.com\/dir\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1969"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}