Efungumab

Efungumab

Monoclonal antibody
Type	Single-chain variable fragment
Source	Human
Target	fungal Hsp90
Clinical data
Trade names	Mycograb
Routes of administration	Intravenous
Pharmacokinetic data
Bioavailability	Not applicable (IV only)
Protein binding	High
Biological half-life	1–2 hours
Identifiers
ATC code	none
ChemSpider	none
UNII	BM86P708HW
Chemical data
Molar mass	Approximately 27.2 kg/mol
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Efungumab (trade name Mycograb) is a drug developed by NeuTec Pharma (a subsidiary of Novartis), intended to treat invasive Candida infection in combination with amphotericin B. The European Medicines Agency has twice refused to grant marketing authorization for Mycograb, citing product safety and quality issues.^[1]

Chemically, efungumab is a single-chain variable fragment of a human monoclonal antibody.^[2] As such, it potentially act similarly to an IgA - inhibiting by binding and blocking.

Its ability to potentiate the effects of the antifungal amphotericin B in culture were later found to be non-specific. ^[3]

References

1. European Medicines Agency (2007). REFUSAL CHMP ASSESSMENT REPORT FOR MYCOGRAB. Procedure No. EMEA/H/C/658 PDF (370 KiB). London: European Medicines Agency. Retrieved on 2007-11-20. Detailed assessment report with comprehensive overview of reasons for refusal of marketing authorization.
2. World Health Organization (2006). "International Nonproprietary Names for Pharmaceutical Substances (INN). Proposed INN: List 95" (PDF). WHO Drug Information 20 (2): 48.
3. Nonspecific Effect of Mycograb on Amphotericin B MIC. Antimicrob Agents Chemother v.56(7); Jul 2012 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3393390/