Founded in 2020 on the strength of a 2019 lab discovery, MycoRx was built by scientists who had spent years studying how fungal cells survive in a host. That research led to the identification of Dfg5 and Dcw1 as critical proteins in fungal cell wall biogenesis and, from there, to the development of a molecule capable of blocking them.
About Us
MRX-001 does not
improve on existing
antifungals. It replaces
the model entirely.
No other pharmaceutical developer has targeted these critical proteins in fungal cell walls.
Getting there required the kind of deep scientific curiosity that produces genuinely new approaches rather than incremental ones. The scientists behind MycoRx have deep roots in fungal cell biology and clinical research. They bring an expertise to this problem that only comes from spending years inside it.
Fungal infections are a major and
underserved global health problem.
cases of Candida infections in the U.S. annually
Candida infection mortality rate annually
estimated market for an effective antifungal drug
WHY WE EXIST
Target the fungus.
Not the patient.
The four available antifungal drug classes all target internal cell structures shared with human biology. That overlap drives high toxicity and fuels the drug resistance that is increasingly undermining treatment outcomes.
Antifungal drug development has been running on the same mechanisms for decades.
MycoRx was established in 2020 because the founders had identified a different target: proteins found only in fungal cell walls, essential to fungal survival, with no human analog. Nobody else was developing a drug against these proteins. That gap represented both a scientific opportunity and a clinical obligation.
HOW WE WORK
The science leads.
The execution follows.
Data Driven
Every decision at MycoRx starts with the data. MRX-001 was not designed to fill a market gap. It was discovered through basic science research into fungal cell biology and then developed because the preclinical evidence supported it.
FDA Approval
We are completing preclinical efficacy and safety studies and are on track to file an Investigative New Drug (IND) application with the FDA by 2027. We work with transparency about where we are in development and rigor about what the data does and does not yet show.
Accountability
We are open to collaboration with research institutions and pharmaceutical partners interested in clinical trial development and commercialization. We do not have a standard engagement model. We have a standard of accountability.
The People
MycoRx is a founder-led company. The scientific curiosity that produced MRX-001 is the same curiosity driving its development.
FOUNDERS
Abhiram Maddi BDS, MSc, PhD
Co-Founder & Chief Scientific Officer
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Dr. Abhiram Maddi is an Associate Professor at the James B. Edwards College of Dental Medicine at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC), where he serves as a clinician scientist and investigator in oral microbiology and mycology. His research has focused on fungal cell walls for more than a decade, and working at the intersection of fungal genetics and microbiology, Dr. Maddi was among the first researchers to identify Dfg5 and Dcw1 as critical proteins in fungal cell wall biogenesis and to recognize their potential as antifungal drug targets.
His NIH/NIDCR-funded research at the University at Buffalo has produced multiple national and international publications cited by leading scientists in the field. Dr. Maddi has received numerous scholarships, awards, and postdoctoral fellowships in recognition of his research contributions.
At MycoRx, Dr. Maddi leads the scientific program, overseeing the preclinical development of MRX-001 and translating foundational research into a viable drug candidate.
Animesh A. Sinha MD, PhD
Co-Founder & Chief Medical Officer
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Dr. Animesh A. Sinha is the Professor of the Department of Dermatology at the University at Buffalo, where he also holds appointments in the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences. His career spans more than four decades of clinical practice and research, with particular expertise in immunology, autoimmunity, and translational research.
Dr. Sinha completed his MD at the University of Alberta, earned his PhD in Medical Sciences with a focus on Immunology from the same institution, and pursued postdoctoral research at Stanford University in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology. He completed subspecialty training in dermatology at Yale University. He is board-certified in dermatology and has held faculty appointments at Weill Medical College of Cornell University and Michigan State University.
At MycoRx, Dr. Sinha brings clinical and translational depth to the development program, bridging the science of MRX-001 to the patients and clinical settings it is designed to serve.
SCIENTIFIC ADVISORY BOARD
Dario Lehoux PhD
Drug Development and Translational Research Expert
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Dr. Dario Lehoux is an accomplished researcher with more than two decades of experience in biotechnology and pharmaceutical drug development. Throughout his career, he has worked with biotechnology companies including Phagetech, Targanta Therapeutics, The Medicines Company and ContraFect Corporation, where he has contributed to the preclinical and nonclinical development of novel therapies for infectious diseases, CNS conditions, hypercholesterolemia and cardiovascular disorders.
His expertise spans pharmacology, DMPK, toxicology and PK/PD studies, supporting drug discovery and development for both small molecules and biologics. Dr. Lehoux has extensive experience advancing novel therapies through preclinical development and generating the data needed to support regulatory submissions.
Chris Richardson PhD, PMP
Program Management & Operations Consultant
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Dr. Chris Richardson is a pharmaceutical and biotechnology leader with more than three decades of experience spanning program management, drug development, technical operations, drug substance development, laboratory operations, chemical manufacturing and GMP. She spent nearly 20 years at Novartis in a variety of technical and program management roles, including international assignments in Ringaskiddy, Ireland, and Basel, Switzerland.
Dr. Richardson worked with numerous small biotechnology companies, managing complex programs across a range of therapeutic areas and modalities. She held leadership roles with Expression Therapeutics, Ajax Therapeutics, ContraFect Corporation and PrintBio, Inc., and currently serves as consulting VP of Program Management and Operations for Expression Therapeutics and Managing Director of Black Dog Pharma Consulting LLC.
Dr. Richardson holds a Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry from New York University, as well as a PMP Certification.
BUSINESS ADVISORY BOARD
Stanley Liang PhD
Patent Attorney, Liang & Hennessey Associates
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Dr. Stanley D. Liang is a patent attorney and co-founder of Liang and Hennessey LLP, with more than 15 years of experience practicing intellectual property law at leading New York firms. With a background in biochemistry and molecular biology, Dr. Liang works primarily with clients in the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries, providing counsel across patent preparation and prosecution, patentability and freedom-to-operate analyses, due diligence, litigation and other intellectual property matters.
His scientific and legal expertise spans a broad range of technologies, including stem cells, gene therapy, antibodies, disease-related genes and proteins, vaccines, formulations, small molecules and medical devices. Dr. Liang holds a Ph.D. in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from Harvard University and a J.D. from Fordham University School of Law, along with an M.S. in Biology from California State University and a B.S. in Microbiology and Immunology from McGill University.
Michael J Burns PhD
Drug Development in Pharma Industry Expert
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Dr. Michael J. Burns is a pharmaceutical executive, researcher and entrepreneur with more than four decades of experience in the pharmaceutical and healthcare industries. He is the Co-Founder and President of TetraDerm Group, where he leads the development of a patented technology designed to manage stressed skin and support damaged skin barrier function across indications including eczema, inflammatory dermatitis, psoriasis, xerosis and premature skin aging.
Throughout his career, Dr. Burns has held senior leadership positions spanning pharmaceutical development, manufacturing, commercialization, licensing and corporate development. As President and COO of Ferndale Pharma Group, he oversaw a diversified organization focused on the development, manufacture, sales and distribution of topical pharmaceutical, medical device, OTC and cosmetic products. His expertise includes innovation management, strategic partnerships and business development, with consulting experience supporting companies in the dermatology and oncology fields.
FAQs
These are the questions we hear most often from investors, clinicians, and partners considering working with MycoRx. If yours is not here, the Contact page is the right next step.
What makes MRX-001 different from existing antifungal drugs?
MRX-001 targets Dfg5 and Dcw1, two proteins found only in fungal cell walls that are essential to Candida survival. No approved antifungal drug and no drug currently in development targets these proteins. This mechanism of action is entirely distinct from the four existing drug classes, which is why MRX-001 shows low toxicity and low drug resistance in preclinical studies.
What stage of development is MRX-001 in?
MRX-001 is in preclinical development. MycoRx is completing efficacy and safety studies and expects to file an Investigative New Drug (IND) application with the FDA by the end of 2026. Subject to IND acceptance, clinical trials would follow.
Who are MycoRx’s target patients?
MRX-001 is designed to address a broad range of fungal infections. The patients most likely to benefit include those who are immunocompromised, elderly, premature infants, cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy, transplant recipients, individuals with HIV/AIDS, military members, and athletes. Fungal disease is widespread and crosses demographic lines; the goal is a treatment accessible across that full range.
Is MycoRx seeking investors or partners?
Yes. MycoRx has secured initial angel funding and is actively seeking investment partners to support the IND filing and clinical development program. We are also open to collaboration with pharmaceutical partners interested in clinical trial development and commercialization. We welcome conversations with organizations working in adjacent spaces.
What does first-in-class mean for MRX-001?
First-in-class means MRX-001 uses a mechanism of action that no approved drug uses. It is not a variation on an existing antifungal. It targets proteins that have not been targeted before, works through pathways that existing resistance mechanisms do not apply to, and was developed from basic science research that identified a genuinely new entry point into fungal cell biology.
Can MRX-001 be delivered orally?
MRX-001 is being developed for both oral and intravenous delivery. The goal is a flexible delivery model that serves different clinical settings and patient needs. Delivery formulation work is part of the ongoing preclinical program.
Didn’t find the answer?
CONTACT US
Ready to talk?
Whether you are an investor evaluating the pipeline, a clinician interested in future collaboration, or a researcher working in antifungal science, we want to hear from you.