Seeking oral antifungals

For decades, amphotericin B was the gold standard for systemic fungal infection, followed by liposomal formulations that improved the safety profile but are still administered intravenously. Reprofiling company iCo Therapeutics Inc. is evaluating an oral formulation dubbed iCo-009, as well as the drug delivery technology it uses, under an exclusive option from the University of British Columbiawith the hope of achieving the convenience of a pill with a better toxicity profile than marketed liposomal formulations.

Last week, the company disclosed unpublished data from a university study showing that iCo-009 reached therapeutic levels in the bloodstream in rats infected with Aspergillus fumigatus and treated fungal infections with reduced or no kidney toxicity compared with IV amphotericin B. ...