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Intravaginal Gel for Sustained Delivery of Occidiofungin and Long-Lasting Antifungal Effects

Authors :
Andrew Cothrell
Kevin Cao
Rachele Bonasera
Abraham Tenorio
Ravi Orugunty
Leif Smith
Source :
Gels, Vol 9, Iss 10, p 787 (2023)
Publication Year :
2023
Publisher :
MDPI AG, 2023.

Abstract

Fungal infections are caused by opportunistic pathogens that can be life threatening or debilitating. Candida spp. are becoming increasingly resistant to current clinically approved antifungal therapeutics. Candida infections afflict not only immunosuppressed but also immunocompetent individuals. Recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis (RVVC) is a disease that afflicts 5–9% of women. Occidiofungin is a novel cyclic peptide that has a broad spectrum of antifungal activity with a novel fungicidal mechanism of action. A gel formulation containing occidiofungin (OCF001) is being developed for use to treat vulvovaginal candidiasis. The formulated gel for intravaginal application used hydroxyethyl cellulose as the primary gelling agent and hydroxypropyl β-cyclodextrin as a solubilizing agent for occidiofungin. Franz cells and LC-MS/MS were used to determine the rate of drug substance diffusion in the gel formulation. The formulation was tested in an ex vivo mouse skin efficacy study, and the safety was tested following repeat intravaginal administration in rabbits. In this study, the gel formulation was shown to reduce the drug substance rate of diffusion across a skin memetic membrane. The study showed that the formulation extends exposure time to inhibitory concentrations of occidiofungin over a 24-h period and supports a single daily application for the treatment of RVVC.

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
23102861
Volume :
9
Issue :
10
Database :
Directory of Open Access Journals
Journal :
Gels
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
edsdoj.2e0216ef9dee403ba99dc9507f234006
Document Type :
article
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.3390/gels9100787