By Abdullahi Lukman
The World Health Organization (WHO) Assistant Director-General for Antimicrobial Resistance ad interim, Dr. Yukiko Nakatani, has drawn attention to the critical shortage of medicines and diagnostic tools for invasive fungal diseases, highlighting the urgent need for innovative research and development (R&D).
In a new report published by WHO on April 1, 2025, Nakatani warned that “invasive fungal infections threaten the lives of the most vulnerable, but countries lack the treatments needed to save lives.”
The report reveals a growing public health crisis, with fungal infections like candida, which causes oral and vaginal thrush, becoming increasingly resistant to treatment.
These infections disproportionately affect individuals with weakened immune systems, such as cancer patients, people living with HIV, and those who have undergone organ transplants.
According to WHO, the lack of effective antifungal treatments and diagnostic tools is a significant barrier to managing these diseases, especially in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), where diagnostic services are often inadequate or unavailable.
Fungal infections are becoming an escalating health concern, with mortality rates for the most dangerous pathogens on the WHO’s fungal priority pathogens list (FPPL) reaching up to 88 percent.
As more individuals live with immunocompromised conditions, the incidence of invasive fungal diseases is expected to rise.
However, the report also highlights the challenges in developing new treatments, citing that only four new antifungal drugs have been approved in the last decade, and only three are currently in the final stages of clinical development.
Nakatani pointed out that existing treatments often come with serious side effects, frequent drug interactions, and the need for extended hospital stays, making them less ideal for widespread use.
She called for the development of safer, more effective antifungal medicines and emphasized the need for better diagnostic tools, particularly those that can be used in resource-limited settings.
The WHO report also underscores the lack of sufficient knowledge and training among health workers in many countries, which contributes to the inadequate response to fungal infections.
WHO recommends investing in global surveillance, expanding financial incentives for drug discovery, and supporting research to find new targets for antifungal treatments.
The organization is also working on an implementation blueprint to guide efforts to combat invasive fungal diseases and antimicrobial resistance worldwide.
This new WHO report serves as a call to action for governments, health organizations, and researchers to prioritize the fight against invasive fungal diseases and address the critical gaps in treatment and diagnostics that are putting lives at risk, particularly among vulnerable populations.
