Ciba-Geigy Corporation

Johannes Gruner

Gabriele Fendrich

John A Auden

Willy Zimmermann

Peter Traxler

Jakob Nuesch

The invention relates to 1,8-dihydroxy-3-methylbenz[b]phenanthridine-7,12-dione and its derivatives of formula I ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 is hydrogen or the radical of formula II ##STR2## and salts of the compound, wherein R.sup.1 is the radical of formula II. These compounds can be obtained by means of a novel microbiological process and used for the therapeutic treatment of tumors.

Phenanthridine derivatives, process for the preparation thereof, and

Phenanthridine derivatives and compositions containing them

The new antibiotic 'Papulacandin' is obtained by the cultivation of the microorganism Papularia sphaerosperma (Pers.) Hohnel, especially of the strain NRRL 8086, under aerobic conditions in an aqueous nutrient medium. There can also be used mutants of said microorganisms. Papulacandin consists of various components A, B, C, D and E, the more important of which are A and B, whose structures have been elucidated to a great extent: they contain only carbon, hydrogen and oxygen. Papulacandin and its components have a strong anti-fungal action, for instance against Candida albicans, and can be used for combating infections caused by pathogenic fungi.

Papulacandin derivatives and pharmaceutical compositions containing same

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Fluh, Switzerland

Johannes Gruner