Oral oxaborole MRX-5 exhibits efficacy against pulmonary Mycobacterium abscessus in mouse

Mycobacterium abscessus (Mab) is an opportunistic pathogen common in patients with lung comorbidities and immunosuppression. There are no FDA-approved treatments, and current treatment has a failure rate exceeding 50%. The intravenous oxaborole MRX-6038 is active against Mab. This study evaluated MRX-5, the oral prodrug, against five Mab isolates in a mouse lung infection model. MRX-5 showed dose-dependent efficacy, with 15 and 45 mg/kg doses comparable to the standard of care, supporting progression to clinical trial.