Researchers announced the discovery of a new antifungal drug, which is distinguished by its ability to eliminate the most dangerous treatment-resistant fungal strains, including those that do not respond to any of the currently available medications, even last-line medications.
This achievement represents an important shift in the face of the increasing prevalence of fungal infections in hospitals, which are becoming increasingly resistant to treatment.
The new drug, called “Mandimycin,” was developed by a team from the China University of Pharmacy, after the discovery of a rare compound produced by soil bacteria. Unlike most known antifungals, this drug does not target a single protein or pathway within the cell, but rather attacks the cell membrane itself by binding to multiple types of lipids (phospholipids) that keep the fungal cell together.
This multiple attack disrupts the vital balance of the fungal cell, leading to leakage of ions and collapse of the membranous structure, and thus the death of the fungus. Most importantly, this mechanism significantly reduces the possibility of resistance developing, as laboratory experiments have failed to produce strains capable of surviving the effects of the drug, unlike what happens with other drugs.
“Mandimycin” has shown high effectiveness against fungi on the World Health Organization’s list of priority threats, most notably Candida auris, which is considered a global health threat, as more than 90% of its isolates are resistant to one of the most common antifungal drugs.
In trials on mice, the drug successfully eliminated strains resistant to all drug classes, with initial indications of less kidney toxicity compared to conventional drugs. The drug also has better water solubility, which may enhance its delivery into the bloodstream.
This study, published in the journal “Nature,” opens a new window of hope, but it confirms that there is still a long way to go before the drug can be approved clinically, as it requires conducting large-scale human trials to prove its safety and effectiveness and determine appropriate doses.
