Experimental System For Screening New Antifungal Drugs

Fungal diseases are globally neglected. Approximately 1.6 million people die annually due to the spread of these diseases. Current therapeutic alternatives are expensive, low in efficacy, and come with significant side effects. In Brazil, treating disseminated fungal diseases can cost the Unified Health System (SUS) up to R$ 400,000 per patient.

The technology proposes an experimental system for screening new molecules or repositioning existing and validated drugs for new applications, specifically for the treatment of fungal infections. This technique is faster than the traditional method of developing new drugs, which can take over ten years, and is more cost-effective. The system allows analysis not only of drugs but also of their cellular targets. This enables the combination of antifungal activity with potential mechanisms of action of the drugs under investigation.

Partners with candidate drugs for testing antifungal activity to broaden the screening of more effective drugs. The group is also interested in licensing to national and international companies capable of producing and commercializing the technology.