JERSEY CITY, N.J., Oct. 24, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- SCYNEXIS, Inc. (NASDAQ: SCYX), a biotechnology company pioneering innovative medicines to overcome and prevent difficult-to-treat and drug-resistant infections, today announced the presentation of preclinical data on its second generation fungerp candidate, SCY-247, against a broad panel of fungal pathogens. The analyses were presented by Mahmoud Ghannoum, Ph.D, Professor and Director Center for Medical Mycology, Case Western Reserve University, in an oral presentation titled, “SCY-247, a Second-generation IV/Oral Triterpenoid Antifungal: In Vitro Activity Against a Broad-spectrum of Fungal Pathogens, and Dose-dependent Tissue Distribution In Vivo” at the 11^th Congress on Trends in Medical Mycology (TIMM) held in Athens Greece October 20-23, 2023.

“We are excited to see the progress in the development of this novel compound from the fungerp family,” said Dr. Martin Hoenigl, FECMM, Associate Professor of Translational Mycology at University of Graz, Austria and president of the European Confederation of Medical Mycology (ECMM). “With the growing concern over antifungal resistance and the increase in the number of vulnerable patients susceptible to deadly fungal infections, there is an urgent need to address current gaps in our armamentarium with new therapies, particularly potent and broad-spectrum antifungals with oral and IV formulations and low risk for drug-drug interactions.”

The preclinical study evaluated the activity of second-generation triterpenoid antifungal candidate SCY-247 against a range of fungal pathogens, including multi-drug resistant strains. Results illustrated the potent and broad-spectrum in vitro activity of SCY-247, including against a large array of yeasts, molds and dimorphic fungi. Results also demonstrated SCY-247’s extensive tissue distribution in mice, including brain penetration. Finally, SCY-247 demonstrated fungicidal activity against multi-drug resistant strains, including Candida albicans and Candida auris, as well as evidence of dose-dependent in vivo efficacy in a mouse model of invasive candidiasis.

About SCY-247

SCY-247 is a second-generation antifungal compound from a novel class of structurally-distinct glucan synthase inhibitors, triterpenoids (fungerps), under development as a therapeutic option for systemic fungal diseases. The fungerps represent the first new class of antifungal compounds since 2001. These agents combine the well-established activity of glucan synthase inhibitors with the potential flexibility for oral and intravenous (IV) routes of administration. SCY-247 has demonstrated broad-spectrum antifungal activity, in vitro and in vivo, and SCYNEXIS anticipates that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) may grant SCY-247 Qualified Infectious Disease Product (QIDP) and Fast Track designations for its IV and oral formulations. SCYNEXIS plans to begin clinical studies in the second half of 2024.