Fungal-specific Cyp51 inhibitor VT-1598 demonstrates in vitro activity against Candida and Cryptococcus species, endemic fungi, including Coccidioides species, Aspergillus species and Rhizopus arrhizus

Invasive fungal infections, including those caused by yeasts, moulds and endemic organisms, can be significant causes of morbidity and mortality in immunocompromised hosts, those with multiple comorbidities and occasionally immunocompetent hosts. Current antifungal agents are often limited by drug toxicities, drug interactions or the development of resistance. VT-1598 is a novel tetrazole that has greater specificity for fungal Cyp51 than currently available triazoles and thus the potential for clinically significant drug interactions is reduced. We measured the in vitro activity of VT-1598 against clinical isolates of Candida and Cryptococcus species, endemic fungi, including Coccidioides, Blastomyces and Histoplasma, Aspergillus species and Rhizopus arrhizus.