Fosmanogepix is an experimental

antifungal An antifungal medication, also known as an antimycotic medication, is a pharmaceutical fungicide or fungistatic used to treat and prevent mycosis such as athlete's foot, ringworm, candidiasis (thrush), serious systemic infections such as ...

drug being developed by Amplyx Pharmaceuticals (now currently by

Pfizer Pfizer Inc. ( ) is an American Multinational corporation, multinational Pharmaceutical industry, pharmaceutical and biotechnology corporation headquartered at The Spiral (New York City), The Spiral in Manhattan, New York City. Founded in 184 ...

and Basilea) It is being investigated for its potential to treat various fungal infections including

aspergillosis Aspergillosis is a fungal infection of usually the lungs, caused by the genus ''Aspergillus'', a common mold that is breathed in frequently from the air, but does not usually affect most people. It generally occurs in people with lung diseases su ...

, candidaemia, and

coccidioidomycosis Coccidioidomycosis (, ) is a mammalian mycosis, fungal disease caused by ''Coccidioides immitis'' or ''Coccidioides posadasii''. It is commonly known as cocci, Valley fever, California fever, desert rheumatism, or San Joaquin Valley fever. Cocci ...

. Fosmanogepix is a

prodrug A prodrug is a pharmacologically inactive medication or compound that, after intake, is metabolized (i.e., converted within the body) into a pharmacologically active drug. Instead of administering a drug directly, a corresponding prodrug can be ...

and is converted into the active drug form, manogepix in vivo. Manogepix targets the enzyme GWT1 (Glycosylphosphatidylinositol-anchored Wall protein Transfer 1), an enzyme in the

glycosylphosphatidylinositol Glycosylphosphatidylinositol () or glycophosphatidylinositol (GPI) is a phosphoglyceride that can be attached to the C-terminus of a protein during posttranslational modification. The resulting GPI-anchored proteins play key roles in a wide vari ...

biosynthesis pathway. Inhibiting this enzyme prevents the fungi from properly modifying certain (so called GPI-anchored) proteins essential to the fungal life cycle. This

mechanism of action In pharmacology, the term mechanism of action (MOA) refers to the specific biochemical Drug interaction, interaction through which a Medication, drug substance produces its pharmacological effect. A mechanism of action usually includes mention o ...

is totally novel; therefore, if approved, fosmanogepix would become a

first-in-class medication A first-in-class medication is a prototype drug that uses a "new and unique mechanism of action" to treat a particular medical condition. While the Food and Drug Administration's Center for Drug Evaluation and Research tracks first-in-class medic ...

. In 2023, the drug was given a compassionate use authorization for four patients with

Fusarium solani ''Fusarium solani'' is a species complex of at least 26 closely related filamentous fungi in the division Ascomycota, family Nectriaceae. It is the anamorph of ''Nectria haematococca''. It is a common soil inhabiting mold. ''Fusarium solani'' ...

meningitis.

References

{{reflist Isoxazoles Antifungals Prodrugs Organophosphates Zwitterions Experimental drugs Drugs developed by Pfizer 2-Pyridyl compounds Pyridinium compounds