Well-tolerated amphotericin B derivatives that effectively treat visceral leishmaniasis

Amphotericin B is a potent but also toxic drug used against fungal pathogens but also against the protozoan parasite Leishmania. There are very few drugs against the latter pathogen and we show here that well tolerated less toxic amphotericin B derivatives are active against Leishmania in vitro. We also show that these novel derivatives target ergosterol, and significantly that they show excellent activity in vivo in an animal model of visceral leishmaniasis.