A new antifungal medicine for skin and body-wide Candida auris infections

Development and evaluation of a second-generation fungerp for systemic and cutaneous C. auris infection

NIH-funded research Case Western Reserve University · NIH-11221402

This project tests a new drug called SCY-247 to treat Candida auris that lives on the skin and can spread through the body.

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionCase Western Reserve University NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Cleveland, United States)
Project IDNIH-11221402 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

Researchers are developing SCY-247, a second-generation 'fungerp' antifungal, to target Candida auris on the skin and in the bloodstream. They will study how well the drug kills resistant C. auris strains and whether it can reach and clear skin reservoirs that help spread infection. Lab and preclinical models that mimic skin colonization and invasive disease will be used to measure activity and safety before any future patient testing. The aim is a single approach that can address both cutaneous carriage and systemic infections, including strains resistant to existing antifungal classes.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: People with confirmed Candida auris infections—especially those with skin colonization or invasive bloodstream infection not responding to current antifungals—would be the primary patients this work aims to help.

Not a fit: Patients without Candida auris infections or those whose infections are already well controlled by existing antifungals are unlikely to benefit directly from this project.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this could provide a new treatment that works against drug-resistant Candida auris on the skin and in the bloodstream.

How similar studies have performed: First-generation 'fungerp' drugs have shown antifungal activity and one has reached clinical use for certain Candida infections, but SCY-247 is a newer candidate designed to better target resistant C. auris.

Where this research is happening

Cleveland, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Last reviewed 2026-06-10 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.