Wednesday, May 20, 2020
Amplyx Pharmaceuticals, a biotech company developing innovative therapies for debilitating and life-threatening diseases in patients with compromised immune systems, announced today that it has advanced development of its lead program, fosmanogepix (APX001). Enrollment has been completed in a Phase 2 trial evaluating the safety and efficacy of fosmanogepix for the treatment of infections caused by Candida. Top-line data from the trial is expected by July; the results of an initial analysis of the first 10 patients enrolled showed a high level of treatment success. The first patients have also completed treatment in two additional Phase 2 clinical trials evaluating the safety and efficacy of fosmanogepix (APX001) for the treatment of invasive mold infections caused by Aspergillus and rare molds, as well as a study of invasive candidiasis caused by Candida auris, an emerging, life-threatening, drug-resistant fungal pathogen.
"There is an urgent need for effective new antifungal agents, especially those with activity against Candida auris and Aspergillus," said Thomas F. Patterson, M.D., chief, division of infectious diseases, UT Health San Antonio. "These infections are increasingly difficult to treat, and the rise in the rate of infections is alarming. The need for safe and effective therapies with new and different mechanisms of actions is critical, especially with the growing number of immunocompromised patients who are at increased risk for developing these life-threatening infections."
Amplyx is developing fosmanogepix, a broad-spectrum, oral and intravenous antifungal representing a novel therapeutic class, with the potential to treat pathogens resistant to current available antifungal agents. In 2019, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control recognized drug-resistant C. auris as an urgent threat to global public health. Other drug-resistant Candida strains are recognized as serious threats, and the emergence of drug-resistant Aspergillus has been added to the watch list for global health threats, underscoring the need for innovation in the development of antifungals.
"Given the increasing threat of drug-resistant fungal pathogens, including certain strains that are resistant to all currently approved classes of antifungal drugs, there is a clear need to develop compounds that have new mechanisms of action," said Ciara Kennedy, Ph.D., president and chief executive officer of Amplyx. "With its unique mechanism of action and activity against drug-resistant strains, fosmanogepix has the potential to address this important unmet need."
Candidemia is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in the healthcare setting. Candida species are ranked as the fourth main cause of bloodstream infections in hospitals, and the frequency of candidemia has increased in recent years. The prognosis following infection is generally poor, with a reported mortality rate for candidemia in the range of 30% to 60%. The ongoing C. auris study is a multi-center, open-label Phase 2 study to evaluate the safety and efficacy of both intravenous and oral fosmanogepix for the treatment of patients with candidemia, caused by C. auris, including patients with suspected or confirmed resistance to standard-of-care antifungal treatments.
Invasive aspergillosis is a severe, life-threatening fungal infection that typically affects immunocompromised patients, including those with acute leukemia, recipients of allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplant (HCT) or organ transplants, and those who are critically ill. The reported mortality rate ranges from 30-95%. The current standard-of-care treatment options are associated with significant limitations, including renal or hepatic toxicities, drug-drug interactions and development of antimicrobial resistance. The ongoing Aspergillus study is a multi-center, open-label, Phase 2 study to evaluate the safety and efficacy of both intravenous and oral fosmanogepix for the treatment of patients with invasive mold infections caused by Aspergillus species and rare molds.
