In short
Elfucose is a simple sugar (monosaccharide) also known as L-fucose. It is being studied as a topical treatment for chronic wounds colonized by Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a bacterium that can cause persistent infections. One Phase 2 trial is currently authorised in the EU, planning to enrol 90 patients to compare elfucose against an antiseptic solution.
Key points
- Elfucose is a simple sugar, also called L-fucose, being studied as a topical treatment.
- It is being tested in chronic wounds colonized by Pseudomonas aeruginosa.
- The trial is in Phase 2 and is currently authorised in the EU.
- The study plans to enrol 90 participants.
- Researchers will measure safety and the reduction of bacterial load after 14 days of treatment.
What is elfucose?
Elfucose is a simple sugar, also known as L-fucose or 6-deoxy-L-galactose. Its chemical formula is C6H12O5. It is listed as an ingredient substance in the FDA's UNII registry under the code 28RYY2IV3F. The name elfucose is the USAN (United States Adopted Name) and INN (International Nonproprietary Name) for this substance. It is also known by the development code AVTX-803. Elfucose is not currently listed as an authorised medicine in the trial records; it is being investigated as a topical treatment.
How does elfucose work?
Elfucose is a monosaccharide, a type of sugar molecule. The KEGG drug database lists its efficacy supplement as fucose, and notes that fucose has been used in the treatment of leukocyte adhesion deficiency type II (LAD II), a rare immune disorder. In the current clinical trial, elfucose is being studied for a different purpose: as a topical application on chronic wounds to see whether it can reduce the amount of Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteria present. The exact mechanism by which elfucose might affect bacterial colonisation in wounds is not described in the provided sources.
Which conditions is elfucose used or studied for?
- Chronic wounds colonized by Pseudomonas aeruginosa — the current Phase 2 trial is testing elfucose in patients with long-lasting wounds that have been colonized by this bacterium.
- Leukocyte adhesion deficiency type II (LAD II) — the KEGG database notes that fucose, the supplement form of elfucose, has been used in the treatment of this rare inherited immune disorder.
How is elfucose given?
In the current trial, elfucose is applied topically to the wound. The intervention is described as PB-TX-01, containing 2 grams of elfucose, for topical application on the wound. No other pharmaceutical forms or routes of administration are described in the provided sources.
What do the clinical trials show?
There is one clinical trial of elfucose in the provided data. It is a Phase 2 interventional trial, currently authorised in the EU, with the identifier 2024-517491-38-00. The trial plans to enrol 90 patients with chronic wounds colonized by Pseudomonas aeruginosa.
The study compares elfucose (PB-TX-01) against Serasept® 2, an antiseptic solution, both applied topically to the wound. The main things being measured are the safety of the treatment, assessed by recording adverse events over 90 days, and the reduction of bacterial load after 14 days of treatment. The bacterial load is measured by taking swabs and counting colony forming units (CFUs), then categorising the result as "not existent", "isolated", "moderate", "numerous" or "abundant". A reduction is defined as moving down at least one category.
The trial's status is "Authorised", meaning it has received approval to begin but no results are available yet. The full record can be found in the EU Clinical Trials Information System under the identifier 2024-517491-38-00.
What side effects are known?
The provided sources do not contain information about known side effects of elfucose. The clinical trial is designed to measure the incidence, severity and causality of treatment-emergent adverse events and serious adverse events within 90 days, but no results are available yet.