Anidulafungin: A new echinocandin with a novel profile

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

71 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background: Until recently, available treatment for serious fungal infections comprised amphotericin B and azoles, which have limitations. Renal toxicity is a major concern with amphotericin B, while drug-drug interactions, hepatotoxicity, and skin rashes are the primary concerns with the azole medications. The development of the echinocandins, including caspofungin, has helped to fill the need for more efficacious antifungals that are useful across different patient populations and have a good safety profile. Anidulafungin is an echinocandin being developed to treat mucosal and invasive fungal infections. Objective: The aim of this report was to describe the pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic (PK) properties of anidulafungin. Methods: Data were identified using MEDLINE and National Library of Medicine Gateway searches for English-language literature (key words: anidulafungin, esophageal candidiasis, echinocandin, caspofungin, ravuconazole, voriconazole, posaconazole, micafungin, and fluconazole; years: 1996-2004), and from meeting abstracts of the American Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation (Arlington Heights, Illinois), European Congress of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (Basel, Switzerland), International Conference on Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy (Washington, DC), and Infectious Diseases Society of America (Arlington, Virginia). Results: Anidulafungin has potent in vitro activity against Aspergillus and Candida spp, including those resistant to either fluconazole or amphotericin B. Results of several clinical trials imply that anidulafungin is effective in treating esophageal candidiasis (EC), candidemia, and invasive candidiasis (IC). In a Phase III, randomized, blinded clinical trial evaluating anidulafungin (50 mg/d) versus fluconazole (100 mg/d) for the treatment of EC, 97.2% and 98.9% of patients who received anidulafungin and fluconazole, respectively, showed evidence of cure or improvement (treatment difference, -1.6%; 95% CI, -4.1 to 0.8). In a Phase II study of candidiasis and candidemia, anidulafungin showed success rates of 72%, 85%, and 83% in patients receiving the drug at dosages of 50, 75, or 100 mg/d, respectively. Studies evaluating the concomitant use of anidulafungin and either amphotericin, voriconazole, or cyclosporine did not show clinically significant drug-drug interactions or altered adverse-event (AE) profiles (P < 0.05). A population PK analysis showed no significant effect of age, race, concomitant medications, or renal or hepatic insufficiency on the PK properties of anidulafungin (P < 0.05). Conclusions: Anidulafungin may offer a new option to treat serious fungal infections, such as EC, azole-refractory EC, candidemia, and IC. In addition, anidulafungin has been associated with no clinically significant drug-drug interactions and few treatment-related AEs. Anidulafungin may offer a new option in the management of serious and difficult-to-treat invasive fungal infections.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)657-673
Number of pages17
JournalClinical Therapeutics
Volume27
Issue number6
DOIs
StatePublished - Jun 2005
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Anidulafungin
  • Antifungal
  • Aspergillosis
  • Candidemia
  • Candidiasis
  • Echinocandin

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Pharmacology
  • Pharmacology (medical)

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Anidulafungin: A new echinocandin with a novel profile'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this