fusafungine

Fusafungine is a cyclic depsipeptide antibiotic and anti-inflammatory agent derived from the fungus Fusarium lateritium. It was used primarily as a nasal and oromucosal spray for the treatment of upper respiratory tract infections such as sinusitis, rhinitis, rhinopharyngitis (common cold), tonsillitis, laryngitis, angina, and tracheitis. Fusafungine consists of a mixture of enniatin cyclohexadepsipeptides with bacteriostatic activity against various microorganisms including Mycoplasma pneumoniae, Legionella pneumophila, Streptococcus pneumoniae (including methicillin-resistant strains), Streptococcus pyogenes, and Staphylococcus aureus. Its mechanism includes disruption of bacterial cell membranes via ionophoric properties (selective cation transport) and downregulation of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) expression along with inhibition of proinflammatory cytokines. Despite its long history since first authorization in 1963 in the EU and evidence for symptom improvement in some studies for rhinopharyngitis compared to placebo, it was withdrawn from the European market due to rare but severe allergic reactions (notably bronchospasm) and concerns about insufficient efficacy data. Developed by Servier.

Brand names

LocabiotalBioparoxLocabiosol

Other names

fusafunginfusafungina