In addition to the lead compound being trialed, Pfizer said it has secured ownership of Amplyx's early-stage pipeline that includes potential antiviral (MAU868) and antifungal (APX2039) therapies. In 2019, the drugmaker made an initial equity investment in the company as part of Amplyx’s Series C financing, joining what it described as “a world class group” of private equity investors in biotechnology investors.

The Phase 2 clinical trial is evaluating the safety and efficacy of both intravenous and oral formulations of Fosmanogepix for treatment of patients with life-threatening invasive fungal infections caused by molds, yeasts and rare molds. Pfizer said the substance, with both IV and oral formulations in development, has demonstrated broad-spectrum activity in-vitro and has shown wide distribution to various tissues including the brain, lung, kidney and eye.

Fosmanogepix is said to have a novel mechanism of action with the potential to target fungal strains resistant to standard of care therapy. As there are only three classes of antifungal medications currently available, Pfizer said, antifungal resistance can severely limit treatment options and a potential new therapeutic class may therefore be needed. No novel therapeutic class of antifungal therapies has been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in nearly 20 years, it noted.

“The Covid-19 pandemic has been a stark reminder of the devastating impact of infectious diseases, highlighting the continuous need for new anti-infective therapies to treat both emerging and difficult to treat bacterial, viral and fungal infections,” said Angela Lukin, global president of Pfizer Hospital.

Author: Dede Williams, Freelance Journalist