Table 2 Selected pharmaceuticals derived from filamentous fungi and their applications. (Modified after [13])
From: Growing a circular economy with fungal biotechnology: a white paper
Pharmaceutical | Remark |
|---|---|
β-lactams | Penicillins and cephalosporins account for more than 30% of the global antibiotics market |
Cyclosporin | Immunosuppressant that avoids organ rejection in transplant surgery |
Drospirenone | Steroid hormone used as a birth control pill and traded as Slynd; in combination with an oestrogen traded under the brand name Yasmin |
Echinocandins | Caspofungin, micafungin and anidulafungin used for the treatment of Candida infections |
Griseofulvin | Antifungal used for the treatment of skin infections |
Mycophenolic acid | Immunosuppressant that avoids organ rejection in transplant surgery and is traded as CellCept |
Myriocin | Chemical analogue thereof is used to treat multiple sclerosis; approved in 2018 as Gilenya |
Psilocybin | Indolalkaloid currently being tested in phase II clinical trials for the treatment of major depressive disorders and is considered by the FDA as a breakthrough therapy [16] |
Statins | Lovastatin, simvastatin and pravastatin are used to treat cardiovascular diseases by lowering cholesterol levels |