Scynexis Announces Federal Funding of Collaboration Between Hackensack Meridian CDI and Johns Hopkins Researchers to Develop New Therapeutics, Including Novel Fungerps, for Resistant Fungal Infections

Rhea-AI Summary

SCYNEXIS (NASDAQ: SCYX) announced it is a collaborator in a new Center of Excellence in Translational Research jointly led by Hackensack Meridian CDI and Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health that received a federal five-year grant from NIAID.

The CETR expects to receive about $7 million annually, contingent on availability of funds, to support five projects including a novel series of SCYNEXIS’ proprietary triterpenoid antifungals (next‑generation fungerps) aimed to advance selected preclinical candidates toward IND readiness for resistant fungal infections.

Positive

• $7M annual federal funding awarded to the CETR
• SCYNEXIS fungerps included among five funded projects
• Collaboration with Johns Hopkins and Hackensack Meridian CDI

Negative

• Funding is contingent on availability of funds
• Next‑generation fungerps remain in preclinical stages

Insights

Translational research analyst

Federal grant of $7 million annually backs a CETR that includes SCYNEXIS next‑generation fungerps to advance preclinical candidates toward IND readiness.

SCYNEXIS joins a Center of Excellence in Translational Research led by Hackensack Meridian CDI and Johns Hopkins, which expects about $7 million per year from NIAID over a five‑year period, contingent on fund availability. The grant funds five projects, and a novel series of triterpenoid antifungals from the company are explicitly included for preclinical advancement toward IND‑ready candidates.

The outcome depends on two clear facts: continuation of annual funding and successful preclinical progress of the selected candidates. Funding is described as contingent upon availability of funds, and the compounds remain in early preclinical stages, so technical or funding interruptions could slow or stop progression.

Watch for concrete milestones over the grant term: confirmation of annual fund releases, preclinical data readouts that support IND filing, and any announced IND submissions within the five‑year window ending after Nov 17, 2025. Those items define whether this grant translates into meaningful clinical development for the listed fungerp candidates.

• Five-year grant of $7 million annually to the academic researchers is aimed at accelerating the development of new therapeutics to combat resistant fungal infections, including the Company’s next generation of triterpenoid antifungals (fungerps).
• Next-generation fungerps, in preclinical stages of development, are targeted to have enhanced pharmacological properties to treat fungal infections where current therapies are limited or not effective, while maintaining broad spectrum of activity against resistant fungal pathogens.

 
JERSEY CITY, N.J., Nov. 17, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- SCYNEXIS, Inc. (NASDAQ: SCYX), a biotechnology company pioneering innovative medicines to overcome and prevent difficult-to-treat and drug-resistant infections, today announced that a novel series of antifungal compounds utilizing SCYNEXIS’ proprietary triterpenoid antifungal platform are among the five projects funded by the federal grant awarded to the new accelerator consortium led by researchers from Hackensack Meridian Center for Discovery and Innovation (CDI) and the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. A five-year federal grant will establish a Center of Excellence in Translational Research (CETR) jointly between researchers from the Bloomberg School and the CDI, and other academic and commercial collaborators. The CETR expects to receive about $7 million annually, contingent upon the availability of funds, with the support coming from the National Institutes of Health’s National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID).

“With approximately four million annual deaths attributable to fungal infections globally¹, this new grant from the NIH provides essential funding to support the development of new therapeutics that can address the growing threat from resistant fungal infections,” said David Angulo, M.D., President and Chief Executive Officer of SCYNEXIS. “As part of this research collaboration, we are pleased to note that a series of next-generation fungerp candidates are included, with the aim to progress their development from early preclinical stage to IND ready candidates. For this collaboration we have selected a few fungerps with key attributes including activity against resistant fungi and differentiated pharmacological properties, critical for addressing significant limitations of currently available antifungal armamentarium. We are very pleased to collaborate with this CETR in tackling one of the world’s most pressing health threats.”

^{1 https://scienceline.org/2025/01/fungal-infections-treatment-options/}

About Triterpenoid Antifungals (Fungerps)

Triterpenoid antifungals (fungerps) are a novel class of structurally-distinct glucan synthase inhibitors being developed to address the significant threat posed by antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in systemic fungal diseases with high mortality. The triterpenoid class of antifungals represents the first new class of antifungal compounds approved since 2001. These agents combine the well-established activity of glucan synthase inhibitors with the potential flexibility of having oral and intravenous (IV) formulations. Ibrexafungerp, the first representative of this novel class, has been licensed to GSK. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved BREXAFEMME® (ibrexafungerp tablets) for the treatment of vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) in 2021 and for reduction in the incidence of recurrent VVC in 2022. SCY-247 is a second-generation fungerp, in Phase 1 of development and has demonstrated in vitro and in vivo broad-spectrum antifungal activity, including against multidrug resistant fungal pathogens. Additional antifungal assets from this novel class are currently in pre-clinical and discovery phases of development.

About the Center for Discovery and Innovation

The Center for Discovery and Innovation, a member of Hackensack Meridian Health, translates current innovations in science to improve clinical outcomes for patients. More than 34 laboratories, 200+ professional researchers and physician-scientists at the CDI have set their sights on cancer, infectious diseases, autoimmune disorders, and other acute and chronic diseases. Clinical need drives scientific insights and their application for these researchers, leading to the development of new diagnostics, therapies, and surveillance capabilities in response to emerging health challenges. The CDI harnesses cutting-edge advances in genetics, molecular biology, clinical immunology, imaging, and behavioral sciences to better diagnose, treat and prevent disease through personalized medicine approaches. For additional information, please visit www.hmh-cdi.org.

About SCYNEXIS

SCYNEXIS, Inc. (NASDAQ: SCYX) is a biotechnology company pioneering innovative medicines to help millions of patients worldwide overcome and prevent difficult-to-treat infections that are becoming increasingly drug-resistant. SCYNEXIS is developing the company’s proprietary antifungal platform “fungerps.” For more information, visit www.scynexis.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

Statements contained in this press release regarding expected future events or results are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including but not limited to statements regarding: SCYNEXIS’ anticipation that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) may grant SCY-247 Qualified Infectious Disease Product (QIDP) and Fast Track designations for both the IV and oral formulations of SCY-247. Because such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, risks inherent in regulatory and other costs in developing products. These and other risks are described more fully in SCYNEXIS' filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including without limitation, its most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K filed on March 12, 2025, including under the caption "Risk Factors." All forward-looking statements contained in this press release speak only as of the date on which they were made. SCYNEXIS undertakes no obligation to update such statements to reflect events that occur or circumstances that exist after the date on which they were made.

CONTACT: 

Investor Relations
Irina Koffler
LifeSci Advisors
Tel: 917-734-7387
ikoffler@lifesciadvisors.com

FAQ

What federal funding did SCYNEXIS (SCYX) join on Nov 17, 2025?

SCYNEXIS is part of a CETR awarded a five‑year NIAID grant expected to provide about $7M annually.

How will the NIAID grant affect SCYNEXIS fungerp development?

The grant funds a CETR project that includes selected SCYNEXIS next‑generation fungerps to advance preclinical candidates toward IND readiness.

Which institutions are leading the collaboration that includes SCYNEXIS (SCYX)?

The consortium is led by researchers from Hackensack Meridian CDI and Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.

Is the CETR funding guaranteed for the full five years for SCYNEXIS projects?

The CETR expects about $7M annually, but funding is contingent on availability of funds.

What is the development status of the SCYNEXIS antifungal candidates included in the grant?

The selected SCYNEXIS triterpenoid antifungals are currently in early preclinical stages.