TY - JOUR
T1 - Anidulafungin
T2 - A novel echinocandin
AU - Vazquez, Jose A.
AU - Sobel, Jack D.
N1 - Funding Information:
Potential conflicts of interest. J.A.V. has received recent research funding from Pfizer, Vicuron, Merck, Wyeth, Schering Plough, Cape Cod and Associates, and Fujisawa; has been a consultant for Fujisawa and Schering Plough; and has been on the speakers’ bureaus for Pfizer and Elan. J.D.S. has received recent research funding from Pfizer, has been a consultant for Vicuron and Pfizer, and has been on the speakers’ bureaus for Pfizer and Merck.
PY - 2006/7/15
Y1 - 2006/7/15
N2 - Until recently, the treatment available for serious fungal infections was composed of amphotericin B and azoles, and each class demonstrated significant limitations. Echinocandins are a new class of drugs that have shown promising results in treating a variety of fungal infections. Of these, anidulafungin is a novel echinocandin that appears to have several advantages over existing antifungals. It is unique because it slowly degrades in humans, undergoing a process of biotransformation rather than being metabolized. It has potent in vitro activity against Aspergillus and Candida species, including those resistant to fluconazole or amphotericin B. Results of several clinical trials indicate that anidulafungin is effective in treating esophageal candidiasis, including azole-refractory disease. The results of a recent study comparing fluconazole versus anidulafungin demonstrated the superiority of anidulafungin in the treatment of candidemia and invasive candidiasis (IC). Studies evaluating the concomitant use of anidulafungin and either amphotericin B, voriconazole, or cyclosporine did not demonstrate significant drug-drug interactions or adverse events. To date, anidulafungin appears to have an excellent safety profile. On the basis of early clinical experience, it appears that anidulafungin will be a valuable asset in the management of serious and difficult-to-treat fungal infections.
AB - Until recently, the treatment available for serious fungal infections was composed of amphotericin B and azoles, and each class demonstrated significant limitations. Echinocandins are a new class of drugs that have shown promising results in treating a variety of fungal infections. Of these, anidulafungin is a novel echinocandin that appears to have several advantages over existing antifungals. It is unique because it slowly degrades in humans, undergoing a process of biotransformation rather than being metabolized. It has potent in vitro activity against Aspergillus and Candida species, including those resistant to fluconazole or amphotericin B. Results of several clinical trials indicate that anidulafungin is effective in treating esophageal candidiasis, including azole-refractory disease. The results of a recent study comparing fluconazole versus anidulafungin demonstrated the superiority of anidulafungin in the treatment of candidemia and invasive candidiasis (IC). Studies evaluating the concomitant use of anidulafungin and either amphotericin B, voriconazole, or cyclosporine did not demonstrate significant drug-drug interactions or adverse events. To date, anidulafungin appears to have an excellent safety profile. On the basis of early clinical experience, it appears that anidulafungin will be a valuable asset in the management of serious and difficult-to-treat fungal infections.
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U2 - 10.1086/505204
DO - 10.1086/505204
M3 - Review article
C2 - 16779750
AN - SCOPUS:33745700391
SN - 1058-4838
VL - 43
SP - 215
EP - 222
JO - Clinical Infectious Diseases
JF - Clinical Infectious Diseases
IS - 2
ER -