MycoLogics, Inc. Focuses on the Isolation of New Classes of Compounds for Treatment of Human Fungal Disease
MycoLogics, Inc. today announced award of a Phase I SBIR grant by the Department of Health and Human Services to isolate a new class of compounds to treat human fungal disease by disrupting beta(1,6)-glucan synthesis. The beta(1,6)-glucan polymer is an essential component for fungal growth, it is found in fungi not in humans and, therefore is an excellent target for the development of antifungal drugs.
DENVER, CO (PRWEB) February 27, 2004 --MycoLogics, Inc., an innovative biotechnology company specializing in the development of therapeutic and prophylactic vaccines against human fungal and parasitic pathogens, today announced award of a Phase I SBIR grant by the Department of Health and Human Services to isolate a new class of compounds to treat human fungal disease by disrupting beta(1,6)-glucan synthesis. The beta(1,6)-glucan polymer is an essential component for fungal growth, it is found in fungi not in humans and, therefore is an excellent target for the development of antifungal drugs.
Fungi cause a wide spectrum of disease; most common examples are relatively minor, localized infections such as athletes foot. However, an ominously increasing number of fungi cause systemic disease with the involvement of internal organs. These serious and life-threatening problems are difficult to diagnose and even more challenging to treat in patients with impaired immune-defense mechanisms. Current treatments for fungal infections are limited to very few therapeutic options. Unfortunately, most options are toxic to humans causing severe adverse effects and those successful approaches to treatment in the past are experiencing a rapid increase in clinical resistance.
There are an estimated 200,000 immunocompromised patients per year undergoing cancer chemotherapy, organ transplantation and AIDS treatments who contract nosocomial or secondary fungal pathogenic infections. MycoLogics, Inc. is committed to filling the critical and immediate need for new antifungals with mechanisms of action different from currently available drugs.
The search for novel antifungal compounds has been hindered by the lack of validated drug targets. We have focused our efforts on the discovery of novel steps in the synthesis of the fungal cell wall, a process unique to fungi. This award will allow us to identify new chemical entities that specifically inhibit the synthesis of beta(1,6)-glucan, a cell wall polymer that is essential for fungal cell growth," said Dr. Claude P. Selitrennikoff, Ph.D., President and Chief Executive Officer of MycoLogics, Inc.
About MycoLogics, Inc.
MycoLogics, Inc. is an innovative biotechnology company specializing in the development of therapeutic and prophylactic vaccines against human fungal and parasitic pathogens, the discovery and isolation of novel antifungal compounds for therapeutic use, and the development of novel high throughput assays that target components of fungal cell walls. MycoLogics, Inc. is headquartered in Aurora, CO at the Fitzsimmons Colorado Bioscience Park. For more information please visit www.mycologics.com.
CONTACT INFORMATION:
Dr. Claude P. Selitrennikoff, Ph.D.
President and CEO
MycoLogics, Inc.
Colorado Bioscience Park
12635 East Montview Blvd., Suite 131
Aurora, CO 80010
Tel: (303) 724-1250
Fax: (303) 724-0861
claude.selitrennikoff@uchsc.edu
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