BARDA awards $29 million to Basilea Pharmaceutica for first-in-class anti-fungal treatments

BARDA has awarded $29 million to Basilea Pharmaceutica International Ltd. Allschwil for the development of two anti-fungal therapeutics, Fosmanogepix and BAL2062, to treat drug-resistant invasive fungal infections. The funding is part of BARDA’s 2022-2026 Strategic Plan to enhance the government’s response posture by leveraging a diverse portfolio of proven medical countermeasures. Fosmanogepix is a broad-spectrum antifungal available in oral and intravenous formulations to address drug-resistant Invasive Candidiasis and Invasive Mold Infections. BAL2062, a first-in-class antifungal with rapid antifungal activity against Aspergillus spp., includes drug-resistant strains. If successful, these two antifungals could help medical providers and the U.S. government respond to drug-resistant secondary fungal infections during public health emergencies.