Anidulafungin: a new echinocandin for candidal infections.
Anidulafungin, a new echinocandin, has recently been approved for the treatment of esophageal candidiasis, candidemia and other forms of invasive candidiasis, such as peritonitis and intra-abdominal abscesses in non-neutropenic patients. It is fungicidal against Candida spp. including those that are azole- and polyene-resistant and fungistatic against Aspergillus spp. Owing to its poor oral bioavailability it can only be administered intravenously. Its pharmacokinetics allow for once-daily dosing and a steady state concentration is easily achieved on day 2 following a loading dose of double the maintenance dose on day 1. It does not need adjustment for hepatic or renal insufficiency; there are no known drug interactions and it has a favorable tolerability profile. Its mechanism of action, which differs from other classes of antifungals, should prevent cross-resistance with azoles and polyenes.
de la Torre
Pola
P
University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, Division of Infectious Diseases, Cooper University Hospital, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, NJ, USA. delaTorre-pola@cooperhealth.edu
Reboli
Annette C
AC
D000077612:Anidulafungin; D000818:Animals; D002177:Candidiasis / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D015507:Drugs, Investigational / Q000737:chemistry / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D054714:Echinocandins; D005656:Fungal Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D010456:Peptides, Cyclic / Q000737:chemistry / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D015507:Drugs, Investigational; D054714:Echinocandins; D005656:Fungal Proteins; D010456:Peptides, Cyclic; D000077612:Anidulafungin; C007572:echinocandin B