Takis has contributed to a very interesting study conceived by Sigma-Tau collaborators aiming at treating invasive pulmonary aspergillosis (IPA) determined by the fungus Aspergillus Fumigatus.

Posaconazole is currently used for the prophylaxis of IPA. Limitations to posaconazole usage are drug-drug interactions and side effects. PTX3 is an innate immunity glycoprotein with opsonic activity, proven to be protective in IPA animal models. This study investigated the combination of posaconazole with PTX3. The results indicate synergy between PTX3 and posaconazole against aspergillosis, suggesting that a combination of reduced doses of posaconazole with the immune response enhancer PTX3 might represent a treatment option with a higher therapeutic index than posaconazole.

For more info: http://aac.asm.org/content/58/10/6284.long