Development and Pharmacological Evaluation of Novel Oral Amphotericin B Formulations for the Treatment of Experimental Systemic Fungal Infections: Providing New Therapeutic Approach for an Unmet Medical Need in First and Third World Countries

Amphotericin B is the most effective, and frequently the only treatment available for a number of life-threatening diseases, including systemic fungal infections and visceral leishmaniasis. The drawbacks of today’s amphotericin B treatment are toxicity and the need to administer the drug intravenously in hospital settings. The need for intravenous administration is due to poor absorption of the drug following oral administration and greatly increases the costs of the therapy and complications associated with intravenous admnistration. In addition, due to the intravenous administration, the drug is failing to reach many patients, especially in developing countries. In this project, amphotericin B will be administered orally to rats in a number of lipid-based formulations with potential to improve the intestinal absorption of this drug. The concentrations of amphotericin B will be measured in plasma and tissues of animals in order to quantify the extent of absorption of amphotericin B following oral administration in lipid-based formulations.

Faculty Supervisor:

Dr. Kishor Wasan

Student:

Pavel Gershkovich

Partner:

iCo Therapeutics Inc.

Discipline:

Pharmacy / Pharmacology

Sector:

Pharmaceuticals

University:

University of British Columbia