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Research addresses 20 year absence of new anti-fungal treatments 7 September 2006, Aberystwyth: MNLpharma, a company focused on discovering and developing next-generation glycotherapeutics, will report positive preclinical data with an anti-fungal compound with a novel mechanism of action at the 21st Annual Congress of the European Society of Veterinary Dermatology and of the European College of Dermatology, which is running from 7-9 September 2006. Fungal diseases present significant challenges in healthcare ranging from life-threatening systemic infections to chronic skin and nail infections. Over the last 20 years few new agents for controlling fungal infections, either new chemical classes or drugs with new mechanisms, have emerged. However, over the same time period, the incidence of life-threatening invasive and cutaneous fungal infections has risen dramatically. The need for new anti-fungal agents is further exacerbated by increasing resistance to some leading drugs. Dr Bernard Mignon, from the University of Liège has carried out preclinical tests on the compound MNLP1242, a compound from a new series of candidates from which MNLpharma plans to develop a topical anti-fungal treatment. MNLP1242 is a member of the phenyl acetylene class and has shown in vitro activity against fungal species such as Trichophyton rubrum and Microsporum canis, which cause fungal skin and nail infections, including athlete’s foot and ringworm. The compound is also active against fungal strains resistant to a widely used anti-fungal, terbinafine - strains which are harder to control. MNLpharma’s compound appears to have a different mechanism of action to this and other currently marketed anti-fungals. Randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials of the compound in a standard model of skin infection showed that animals with a dermal infection of Microsporum canis that received topical treatment with MNLP1242 for seven days showed significant clinical improvements and elimination of the fungal infection. MNLP1242 was comparable in its effectiveness to enilconazole 0.2%, an existing veterinary treatment for this skin infection. Dr Mignon commented: “Our studies show that MNLpharma’s candidate could be a valuable antidermatophytic agent.” MNLpharma is also investigating a further anti-fungal candidate, MNLP1250. This compound has a similar spectrum of activity to MNLP1242, also showing activity against terbinafine-resistant strains. In addition, MNLP1250 has activity against Candida albicans, which causes mucosal fungal infections, including thrush, and can cause invasive disease in immunocompromised individuals, particularly patients in intensive care therapy, cancer sufferers and AIDS patients. Together with the physical and chemical properties of MNLP1250, the compound’s activity profile suggests that it could be developed into a systemically available anti-fungal therapy for cutaneous, mucosal and invasive fungal infections. Hadyn Parry, CEO of MNLpharma said: “MNLP1242 is showing early promise as a member of a putative novel class of anti-fungals. We have identified a number of compounds with anti-fungal activity from our proprietary compound library, Phytopure®, and we are taking forward investigations on several of these compounds with novel structures and putative novel mechanisms of action. Given that there are only four classes of established antifungal drugs on the market and only three are used to treat systemic fungal infections, the need for new agents is strong. We hope that MNLP1242 and our other candidates could eventually offer clinicians a wider choice in their fight against fungal infections.” Both compounds are undergoing further preclinical testing to explore their mechanism of action, to understand their in vivo efficacy and to gain preliminary toxicological information. - ENDS - Notes to Editors
About MNLpharma MNLpharma’s lead compound (MNLP462a) is an imino sugar immunomodulator which has demonstrated impressive protective and therapeutic effects in in vivo cancer models. As a broad spectrum immunotherapeutic MNLP462a is anticipated to be developed for use in a wide range of diseases including infection and as such has great commercial value and potential. This candidate will enter the clinic in 2006. In addition to imino sugars, the company has a unique chemistry platform of pure, novel, drug-like natural compounds called Phytopure™. This collection has produced the antifungal series mentioned above and is further being exploited in a limited number of highly targeted collaborations. Whilst its own imino sugar therapeutics are being developed in-house, MNLpharma seeks to exploit Phytopure™ through a limited number of alliances with companies that are leaders in specific fields. For more information, please contact: Northbank Communications Adam Michael / Gemma Bradley / Tony Stephenson T: +44 (0)203 008 7550 g.bradley@northbankcommunications.com MNLpharma Hadyn Parry, CEO T: +44 (0)197 082 3201
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