Micafungin: a therapeutic review.
In recent decades, the incidence of aspergillosis, candidiasis and clinically important deep mycoses has been increasing, with advances in transplantation medicine and anticancer chemotherapy. Micafungin (FK463, Fujisawa Healthcare) has been developed as a novel type of antifungal agent, which inhibits 1,3-beta-D-glucan synthase in the fungal cell wall. Micafungin, one of the echinocandins, exhibits extremely high antifungal activity against Aspergillus spp. and Candida spp. in vitro. It is also characterized by a linear pharmacokinetic profile and a much lower prevalence of adverse reactions than amphotericin B. Micafungin is quite useful in the treatment of deep mycoses. In clinical studies in Japan, micafungin was found to be highly effective against aspergillosis (57.1% overall efficacy rate) and candidiasis (78.6%). Micafungin is expected to increase the efficacy rate of treatment in patients with severe aspergillosis or candidiasis when used in combination with amphotericin B or mold azoles.
Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Nagasaki University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Japan. higashi-ngs@umin.ac.jp
Yasuhito
Y
Higashiyama
Shigeru
S
Kohno
D000818:Animals; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001228:Aspergillosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology; D002180:Candidiasis, Oral / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology; D002648:Child; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D004347:Drug Interactions; D054714:Echinocandins; D005658:Fungi / Q000187:drug effects; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications; D006801:Humans; D055666:Lipopeptides; D008074:Lipoproteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000077551:Micafungin; D009181:Mycoses / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D010456:Peptides, Cyclic / Q000737:chemistry / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D000935:Antifungal Agents; D054714:Echinocandins; D055666:Lipopeptides; D008074:Lipoproteins; D010456:Peptides, Cyclic; D000077551:Micafungin