Destiny Pharma (DEST) , a clinical stage biotechnology company, announced new data on its XF-70 compound, a member of DEST's XF class of antimicrobial drugs. The new data shows XF-70's potency in an in vivo model of ringworm, a common fungal skin infection.
Ringworm is caused by a class of fungi called dermatophytes that are the causative agents of topical fungal infections. Destiny said XF-70 demonstrated a highly significant anti-fungal efficacy (p = <0.0001) when applied to the skin, compared to untreated control. At the highest concentration tested, XF-70 recorded anti-fungal efficacy of 94.9%.
Further confirming the results, histopathological examination showed fungi skin sections obtained from untreated skin, but not in skin sections obtained from any of the XF-70 treatment groups. The data has been accepted as a presentation at the upcoming Irish Fungal Society meeting at Queen's University Belfast on 19-20 June 2024.
Dr Bill Love, Chief Scientific Officer of Destiny Pharma commenting: "We reported last year significant findings of anti-fungal activity of drugs from the XF Platform and we are encouraged that XF-70's in vitro potency has translated into an in vivo fungal infection. Fungal resistance to anti-fungal drugs is less well known than antibiotic resistance, however it is of global concern and the development of novel anti-fungal drugs is equally important in addressing the impact of antimicrobial resistance."
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Destiny has demonstrated the efficacy of its XF-70 antimicrobial compound in the treatment of ringworm, a common fungal skin infection affecting up to 1 in 4 people worldwide. The data presents a significant opportunity for DEST to address a large and growing patient need, while expanding the utility of its XF Drug Platform to deliver drugs targeting a wide range of bacterial and fungal infections.
The global ringworm treatment market was projected to reach US$8.38bn in 2023, with an expected CAGR of 5.2% from 2023 to 2033. The high prevalence of skin diseases and the high incidence of ringworm are the major factors driving the global market for ringworm treatments.
The positive data and its acceptance at the Irish Fungal Society further bolsters the value of Destiny's XF Drug Platform. Encouraged by the results, DEST said it plans to expand its research into anti-fungal medicine, to identify new market opportunities where there is significant unmet clinical need and resistance to existing drug products.
DEST's XF-70 is a member of DEST's novel class of antimicrobial drugs that have been shown to have a rapid bactericidal activity even within biofilms, and is structurally related to DEST's leading drug XF-73, which is being developed for the prevention of post-surgical infections.
DEST shares gained 4.9% on the announcement.
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