Fosravuconazole (trade name Nailin) is a triazole antifungal agent.[1][2] In Japan, it is approved for the treatment of onychomycosis, a fungal infection of the nail.[3] It is a prodrug that is converted into ravuconazole.[1]

Drugs for Neglected Diseases Initiative (DNDi) and the Japanese pharmaceutical company Eisai found that fosravuconazole works as a treatment for mycetoma, a serious condition.[1][4][5] The Phase II clinical trial found that oral fosravuconazole was safe, patient-friendly, and effective in treating eumycetoma.[6][7] Eumycetoma mainly affects young adults in poorer, rural areas; the standard treatment is itraconazole, which is much more expensive at about US$2,000 for a year than fosravuconazole and unaffordable, and not available in all endemic countries.[7]

References

  1. ^ a b c Yamaguchi H (2016). "Potential of Ravuconazole and its Prodrugs as the New OralTherapeutics for Onychomycosis". Medical Mycology Journal. 57 (4): E93–E110. doi:10.3314/mmj.16-00006. PMID 27904057.
  2. ^ "Fosravuconazole - Seren Pharmaceuticals". Adis Insight. Springer Nature Switzerland AG.
  3. ^ "Oral Antifungal Agent Nailin Capsules 100 mg Approved in Japan" (Press release). Eisai. January 19, 2018.
  4. ^ "Fosravuconazole". Drugs for Neglected Diseases Initiative. 23 November 2023 [Project started in 2015; updated in 2023 with results of the Phase II clinical trial].
  5. ^ "Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative and Eisai Co., Ltd. to Test Drug Candidate for Eumycetoma" (Press release). Eisai Co., Ltd. 10 September 2015.
  6. ^ "World's first clinical trial for devastating fungal disease mycetoma shows efficacy of new, promising treatment" (Press release). Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (DNDi). 23 November 2023.
  7. ^ a b Johnson, Sarah (23 November 2023). "Cheap over-the-counter nail drug found to work on crippling flesh-eating disease". The Guardian. The head of mycetoma at the DNDi labelled the discovery 'momentous', and said 'We were all very excited, it's going to be a gamechanger'.