We studied the efficacy of the investigational drug VT-1161 against mucormycosis. VT-1161 had more potent in vitro activity against Rhizopus arrhizus var. arrhizus than against R. arrhizus var. delemar. VT-1161 treatment demonstrated dose-dependent plasma drug levels with prolonged survival time and lowered tissue fungal burden in immunosuppressed mice infected with R. arrhizus var. arrhizus and was as effective as high-dose liposomal amphotericin B treatment. These results support further development of VT-1161 against mucormycosis.

We compared prophylactic or continuous therapy with the investigational drug VT-1161 to that with posaconazole in treating murine mucormycosis due to Rhizopus arrhizus var. arrhizus In the prophylaxis studies, only VT-1161 resulted in improved survival and lowered tissue fungal burden of immunosuppressed infected mice. In the continuous therapy, VT-1161 outperformed posaconazole in prolonging mouse survival time despite its comparable effect in lowering tissue fungal burden. These results support the further development of VT-1161 against mucormycosis.