Based in Arizona, Valley Fever Solutions is focused on resolving valley fever and from there, expanding to treat fungal infections more broadly, with a vision to redefine treatment standards in fungal disease.
What Key Challenge Is Valley Fever Solutions Focused on Addressing?
Valley Fever Solutions is focused on resolving valley fever, and from that expanding to treat fungal infections more broadly. Three million people die annually from fungal diseases, with six million fungal infections. Drug resistance is increasing. The bugs adapt and old drugs don’t work as well.
How Significant Is This Challenge?
Valley fever is a terrible disease, even in the mild form. 50,000 people are symptomatic each year, more than half of those in Arizona. Typical loss of work time is more than a month from a debilitating disease lasting 3 to 4 months for most. It can linger at some level for many years. Some 2,000 get very sick and need to take drugs for years, even for life, quite literally. 40% do not respond to available drugs. Hundreds die.
David Larwood PhD, JD, MBA, CEO / President / Founder Valley Fever Solutions
How Is Valley Fever Solutions’ Approach Making a Meaningful Impact?
Their drug has been studied for many years, but not delivered effectively until they revised their approach recently. They have essentially resolved severe valley fever in several naturally-infected companion animals, which shows great promise for human therapy. Their drug is safe in humans (Phase 1) and they plan to be treating sick people in trials in 2027.
How Has Being Based in Arizona Supported Valley Fever Solutions’ Growth?
Arizona is a great place to study valley fever, because that’s where most of the cases are, and the community is grateful for an escape from this deadly and serious disease. The ecosystem is very fervent and supportive, growing all the time, and AZBio has been amazing.
What Does the Future Look Like for Valley Fever Solutions?
“We’ve been expanding our story to emphasize that valley fever is only the start, our first therapeutic target because the need is so great and our drug is incredibly effective against it. Our next disease targets are much bigger, thousands of deaths in the US and billions of health care costs, and much more worldwide. We’ve always said this, but now we’re making a bigger case that the drug is widely useful. Many of these other diseases impact Arizonans as well, particularly patients undergoing cancer therapy or generally immune suppressed. We see potential to redefine treatment standards in fungal disease. We’re looking forward to partnering or advancing this to clinical trials as rapidly as we can. Thank you.” – David Larwood PhD, JD, MBA, CEO / President / Founder Valley Fever Solutions
About the Author
Ava Woods is the Marketing & Communications Intern at AZBio, supporting digital communications, content creation, and member engagement initiatives. In her role, Ava assists with social media management, marketing campaigns, event promotion, and storytelling efforts that highlight Arizona’s growing bioscience community. Connect with Ava
About AZBio Member Spotlights
AZBio Member Spotlights are just one of the ways AZBio is building awareness of the health innovations being developed and delivered across the state of Arizona. Telling Arizona’s Bioscience Story is a key goal of Arizona’s Bioscience Roadmap, the nation’s longest-running statewide strategic plan designed to build a robust bioscience sector. Share and enjoy!