Abstract

A novel approach demonstrating that antiviral treatment reduces fungal virulence, providing potential therapeutic strategy for invasive fungal infections.

Background

The global antifungal therapeutics market is projected to reach $25 billion by 2030, with invasive fungal infections representing a significant segment. Invasive fungal infections pose a significant global health threat with ~50% mortality rate. Aspergillus fumigatus causes approximately 65% of all cases. The rising incidence of fungal infections in immunocompromised patients, growing resistance to existing antifungals, and limited therapeutic options present a compelling market opportunity. Current antifungal treatments are limited in efficacy, and new therapeutic approaches are urgently needed.

Our Innovation

Discovery that the Aspergillus fumigatus polymycovirus-1M (AfuPmV-1M) enhances fungal fitness and virulence, and that antiviral treatment can reduce fungal pathogenicity.

Key advantages:

  • Novel therapeutic target: targeting the virus instead of the fungus
  • Proof of concept demonstrated with existing antiviral drug (Ribavirin)
  • Potential to improve treatment outcomes in invasive aspergillosis
  • May be applicable to other fungal infections
  • New strategy to overcome antifungal resistance

Technology

The technology is based on the discovery that AfuPmV-1M virus provides survival advantages to A. fumigatus under stress conditions and during infection. The virus enhances fungal fitness through multiple mechanisms including:

  • Improved stress resistance
  • Enhanced survival in host immune cells
  • Increased virulence in animal models

Antiviral treatment with Ribavirin successfully reduced fungal virulence, providing proof-of-concept for this therapeutic approach.

Opportunity

With proof-of-concept demonstrated using an approved drug (Ribavirin), this approach offers a de-risked development pathway with potential for fast-track designation due to the high unmet medical need.

In partnering with industry the researcher will be able to establish the newly discovered approach, develop innovative diagnostic tools to identify mycovirus-bearing fungal pathogens in clinical settings, and create the most effective antiviral treatments to combat these pathogens. The proposed antifungal therapeutics target a previously unexplored area, offering a novel strategy for intervention.

Patents and Publications

Published in 2024: “Aspergillus dsRNA virus drives fungal fitness and pathogenicity in the mammalian host”