A new humanized antibody is effective against pathogenic fungi in vitro

Invasive fungal infections mainly afect patients undergoing transplantation, surgery, neoplastic disease, immunocompromised subjects and premature infants, and cause over 1.5 million deaths every year. The most common fungi isolated in invasive diseases are Candida spp., Cryptococcus spp., and Aspergillus spp. and even if four classes of antifungals are available (Azoles, Echinocandins, Polyenes and Pyrimidine analogues), the side efects of drugs and fungal acquired and innate resistance represent the major hurdles to be overcome. Monoclonal antibodies are powerful tools currently used as diagnostic and therapeutic agents in diferent clinical contexts but not yet developed for the treatment of invasive fungal infections. In this paper we report the development of the frst humanized monoclonal antibody specifc for β-1,3 glucans, a vital component of several pathogenic fungi. H5K1 has been tested on C. auris, one of the most urgent threats and resulted efcient both alone and in combination with Caspofungin and Amphotericin B showing an enhancement efect. Our results support further preclinical and clinical developments for the use of H5K1 in the treatment of patients in need.