Voriconazole: therapeutic review of a new azole antifungal.
The new triazole antifungal, voriconazole (Vfend, Pfizer Ltd), was developed for the treatment of life-threatening fungal infections in immunocompromised patients. The drug, which is available for both oral and intravenous administration, has broad-spectrum activity against pathogenic yeasts, dimorphic fungi and opportunistic moulds. Unlike fluconazole (Diflucan, Pfizer Ltd), voriconazole has potent in vitro activity against Aspergillus spp., Fusarium spp. and Scedosporium apiospermum. In Phase II/III trials, voriconazole was well-tolerated and had excellent clinical efficacy in patients with fluconazole-sensitive and -resistant candida infection, aspergillosis, and various refractory fungal infections. The US Food and Drug Administration approved voriconazole in May 2002 for the treatment of invasive aspergillosis, and serious infections caused by Fusarium and S. apiospermum in patients who are intolerant of, or refractory to, other antifungal agents. In Europe, voriconazole is approved by the European Medicines Agency for the treatment of invasive aspergillosis, serious infections caused by Fusarium and S. apiospermum, and fluconazole-resistant serious invasive candida infections (including C. krusei).
Département d'Hématologie et d'Oncologie, Hôpital de Hautepierre, 67098 Strasbourg, France. raoul.herbrecht@chru-strasbourg.fr.
Raoul
R
Herbrecht
D000818:Animals; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001393:Azoles / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D004347:Drug Interactions; D006801:Humans; D009181:Mycoses / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology; D011743:Pyrimidines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014230:Triazoles / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D065819:Voriconazole
D000935:Antifungal Agents; D001393:Azoles; D011743:Pyrimidines; D014230:Triazoles; D065819:Voriconazole