What SCYNEXIS does

SCYNEXIS, Inc. is a Jersey City, New Jersey-based clinical-stage biotechnology company (NASDAQ: SCYX) developing therapies for severe rare diseases. The company operates two proprietary technology platforms. The first is a portfolio of triterpenoid antifungal compounds (the fungerp class) that inhibit glucan synthase with a binding profile distinct from echinocandins and azoles, retaining activity against drug-resistant fungi such as Candida auris and echinocandin-resistant strains. BREXAFEMME (ibrexafungerp), the first approved fungerp, received FDA approval in June 2021 for vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) and in November 2022 for reduction of recurrent VVC, and has been exclusively licensed to GSK for global commercialization. A second-generation candidate, SCY-247, entered Phase 1 intravenous dosing in February 2026 and has received FDA QIDP and Fast Track designations.

The second platform is a direct AMPK activator program acquired from Poxel in March 2026 for up to $196 million. The lead asset SCY-770 is a novel, highly selective direct AMPK activator in development as a disease-modifying therapy for autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD), with Orphan Drug Designation and a Phase 2 proof-of-concept study expected to begin in Q4 2026.

SCYNEXIS generates revenue almost exclusively through licensing, milestone, and royalty arrangements rather than direct product sales. BREXAFEMME is commercialized globally by GSK (excluding Greater China, which is licensed to Hansoh Pharma). Reported FY2025 revenue was $20.6 million, of which approximately $24.8 million was a one-time non-refundable payment from GSK related to resolving the Phase 3 MARIO study disagreement. The company raised an additional $40 million via private placement in March 2026 to extend cash runway to mid-2029. With 51-100 employees and a clinical-stage pipeline, SCYNEXIS is a small-cap biotech whose valuation is tied to pipeline execution and partner commercialization milestones rather than current product revenue.

Name

SCYNEXIS

Legal name

SCYNEXIS, Inc.

Website

https://scynexis.com

Company type

Public

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

SCYNEXIS is a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing the fungerp class of triterpenoid antifungal therapies (including approved BREXAFEMME, licensed to GSK) and a direct AMPK activator (SCY-770) for autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease, targeting severe rare diseases and drug-resistant fungal infections.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Biopharmaceutical Rare Disease Therapeutics

NAICS

Scientific Research and Development Services (5417)

SIC

Pharmaceutical Preparations (2834), Medicinal Chemicals & Botanical Products (2833)

akta.pro primary industry

Rare Renal & Nephrology Disorder Therapies (HLAIAIAI)

akta.pro secondary industry

Nephrology & Urology Specialty Pharmaceuticals (HLAIACAH)

Keywords

• Rare disease therapeutics
• Antifungal drug development
• AMPK activators
• Triterpenoid antifungals
• Vulvovaginal candidiasis treatment

Headquarters

HQ city

Durham

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. GSK Licensing and Milestone Payments: SCYNEXIS receives milestone payments and royalties from GSK for BREXAFEMME commercialization. The company is eligible to receive up to $145.5 million in annual net sales milestones plus royalties under the GSK licensing agreement.
2. Private Placement Financing: The company raised $40 million in a private placement with potential for additional $52.2 million, extending cash runway to mid-2029. This is equity financing rather than operational revenue.
3. Product Sales (BREXAFEMME): Revenue from sales of BREXAFEMME, which was transferred to GSK for commercialization in most markets. Total revenue for 2025 was $20.6 million.
4. Asset Acquisition and Milestones: Acquired PXL-770 (now SCY-770) from Poxel for up to $196 million, including $8 million upfront payment and milestone-based payments tied to clinical and commercial achievements.
5. GSK Dispute Resolution Payment: Received $24.8 million one-time non-refundable payment from GSK in Q4 2025 related to resolving a disagreement over the Phase 3 MARIO study.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

SCYNEXIS is a biotechnology company that develops and licenses innovative therapies for severe rare diseases, focused on two proprietary platforms: (1) AMPK activators, led by SCY-770 for autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD), and (2) triterpenoid antifungals (fungerps), including the FDA-approved BREXAFEMME (ibrexafungerp) for vulvovaginal candidiasis and the clinical-stage SCY-247 for invasive fungal infections. The company generates revenue primarily through licensing and milestone payments from commercialization partners, notably GSK globally and Hansoh Pharma for Greater China.

Product overview

SCYNEXIS is a biotechnology company developing therapies for severe rare diseases, with two main clinical-stage programs: (1) SCY-770, a selective AMPK activator for autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) with Orphan Drug Designation, and (2) a differentiated portfolio of triterpenoid antifungal candidates headed by SCY-247 (second-generation fungerp in Phase 1 with FDA QIDP and Fast Track designations). The company also has an approved product, BREXAFEMME (ibrexafungerp), licensed to GSK for vulvovaginal candidiasis and recurrent VVC. The fungerp antifungal platform represents a novel class of glucan synthase inhibitors with broad-spectrum activity against drug-resistant fungi.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• BREXAFEMME: The first approved representative of the triterpenoid antifungal class, approved for vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) and recurrent VVC. Licensed to GSK.
• SCY-770
• SCY-247

Products and services

• BREXAFEMME (ibrexafungerp tablets) BREXAFEMME is the first approved representative of the fungerp class of triterpenoid antifungals, FDA-approved for treatment of vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) and recurrent VVC. The product is licensed to GSK for global commercialization (except Greater China and certain other out-licensed countries) and is prescribed by healthcare providers for women with VVC.
• SCY-247 SCY-247 is a second-generation triterpenoid antifungal (fungerp) with enhanced pharmacological properties, in development for the treatment and prevention of severe and often fatal invasive fungal infections including invasive candidiasis and aspergillosis. It offers broad-spectrum activity, is suitable for both IV and oral formulations, and has received FDA QIDP and Fast Track designations.
• SCY-770

Quantifiable outcome

• SCY-770 demonstrated robust in vivo efficacy in preclinical ADPKD models: reduced kidney weight (cyst growth), improved renal function (blood urea), significant survival benefit vs control, reduced inflammation
• +3 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor, regional and historical.

• Poxel S.A.coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 March 2026In March 2026, SCYNEXIS acquired PXL-770 (now SCY-770) from Poxel S.A. for up to $196 million, including an $8 million upfront payment and milestone payments based on clinical and commercial achievements. SCY-770 is a novel, highly selective, direct AMPK activator for ADPKD. Total potential consideration up to $196 million including $8 million upfront payment and milestone-based payments.
• NIH (National Institutes of Health)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2025NIH provides funding via a CTER (Cooperative Research and Development Agreement) grant of approximately $7 million for development of Fungerp analogs up to IND for treatment of resistant fungi with novel structural analogs.
• GSK (GlaxoSmithKline)coreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing Partner · 1 March 2023Exclusive license agreement signed in March 2023 (amended December 2023 and October 2025) for commercialization of BREXAFEMME (ibrexafungerp) for vulvovaginal candidiasis and recurrent VVC, and further development for life-threatening fungal infections. GSK has rights to develop and commercialize globally except greater China and certain out-licensed countries. SCYNEXIS eligible for up to $145.5 million in annual net sales milestones plus royalties. GSK reaffirmed commitment to relaunching BREXAFEMME with potential annual net sales milestones of up to $146 million.
• Hansoh PharmaregionalChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 February 2021Licensing and strategic partnership agreement for ibrexafungerp covering the Greater China region. SCYNEXIS received $10 million upfront payment and is eligible for development and commercial milestone payments of up to $112 million, plus low double-digit royalties on net sales. Hansoh Pharma is one of the largest biopharmaceutical companies in Greater China and Asia.
• Merck (historical collaboration)historicalStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2015Ibrexafungerp (formerly SCY-078) was initially discovered at SCYNEXIS research facilities and developed as part of a research collaboration with Merck. Subsequently, all worldwide intellectual property, development and commercialization rights were transferred to SCYNEXIS.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Cidara Therapeutics: Clinical-stage biotechnology company developing antifungal and antiviral therapeutics, including rezafungin. Most directly comparable to SCYNEXIS as a small-cap antifungal-focused biotech with similar technology approach and target patient populations.
• F2G Ltd: Late-stage clinical antifungal biotech developing olorofim for invasive fungal infections including resistant strains. Direct competitor to SCYNEXIS's fungerp/SCY-247 platform in targeting drug-resistant fungi.

Broad incumbents

• Astellas Pharma: Major pharmaceutical company with established antifungal franchise (Mycamine/micafungin). A market incumbent in the echinocandin class that SCY-247 must compete against, but at a much larger scale and broader portfolio.
• Pfizer: Global pharmaceutical leader with major antifungal products including Cresemba (isavuconazole) and previously acquired Amplyx. Competes directly in the invasive fungal infection space SCYNEXIS targets, with vastly greater commercial scale.
• Merck & Co. Major pharmaceutical company with Cancidas (caspofungin) and Noxafil (posaconazole) antifungals. Historical SCYNEXIS collaboration partner (original ibrexafungerp discovery). Represents a large incumbent competitor with overlapping anti-infective research.
• Gilead Sciences: Large biopharmaceutical company with anti-infective portfolio including AmBisome and established hospital sales infrastructure. Competes for hospital-based antifungal share where SCY-247 would be positioned.

Others

• GSK (GlaxoSmithKline): Current exclusive commercialization partner for BREXAFEMME globally and an anti-infective industry leader. Not a direct competitor but a critical strategic relationship through which SCYNEXIS captures milestone and royalty revenue.

Emerging players

• Tetraphase Pharmaceuticals: Specialty antibiotic company (Xerava/eravacycline) that developed treatments for serious infections. Highly comparable as a small anti-infective-focused biotech; notably, SCYNEXIS Board Chairman Guy Macdonald previously led Tetraphase as President and CEO.
• ContraFect Corporation: Clinical-stage biotech developing direct lytic agents and other therapeutics for serious bacterial infections including drug-resistant pathogens. Similar profile to SCYNEXIS as a small anti-infective specialist; SCYNEXIS board member Steven Gilman previously led ContraFect as Chairman and CEO.
• Palladio Biosciences: Emerging ADPKD-focused biotech developing therapies for autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease. Directly comparable in the rare renal disease space to SCYNEXIS's SCY-770 ADPKD program, though focused on a different mechanism (vasopressin V2 receptor).

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/scynexis
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/scynexis

Compliance8 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds8 records

Investors8 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about SCYNEXIS