title: Intravenous anidulafungin followed optionally by oral voriconazole for the treatment of candidemia in Asian patients: results from an open-label Phase III trial.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Candidemia is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in hospitalized patients, particularly in Asia. Anidulafungin has been reported to be an effective treatment for candidemia in Western populations, but little is known about its efficacy in Asian patients, where the clinical presentation and epidemiology may be different.
  
  
  METHODS
  An open-label study of anidulafungin for the treatment of candidemia was recently conducted in several Asian countries. Treatment was initiated with intravenous anidulafungin, given for at least 5 days, with the option to complete treatment with oral voriconazole. The primary endpoint was global (clinical and microbiological) response, and the primary analysis was the proportion of patients in the modified intent-to-treat population with successful global response at the end of therapy. Secondary analyses included proportion with successful global response in clinically relevant patient subgroups. The safety and tolerability profile of anidulafungin and voriconazole in this population was also investigated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Forty-three patients were studied, including 42 in the modified intent-to-treat population. Eighteen patients were > 65 years, the largest age subgroup, and 21 had central venous catheters. The most common Candida species causing infection were C. tropicalis (n = 18) and C. albicans (n = 10). In the primary analysis, 73.8% had a successful global response at end of therapy. Success rates in subgroups were: 72.2% for C. tropicalis and 71.4% for C. albicans infection, 58.8% for patients > 65 years, and 81.0% for patients with central venous catheters. Safety and tolerability were comparable with the known profiles for anidulafungin (and voriconazole).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although the epidemiology of Candida infections was different in this open-label study, the efficacy of anidulafungin in Asian patients with documented candidemia was consistent with previous studies in Western populations. No new safety concerns were identified.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  http://www.clinicaltrials.gov identifier NCT00537329.
authors.forename: Piroon
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mootsikapun
authors.forename: Po-Ren
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Hsueh
authors.forename: Deepak
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Talwar
authors.forename: Vilma M
authors.initials: VM
authors.lastname: Co
authors.forename: Viraj
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Rajadhyaksha
authors.forename: Moh-Lim
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Ong
mesh_terms: D061605:Administration, Intravenous; D000284:Administration, Oral; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000077612:Anidulafungin; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D058387:Candidemia / Q000188:drug therapy*; D054714:Echinocandins / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011743:Pyrimidines / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014230:Triazoles / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D065819:Voriconazole; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000935:Antifungal Agents; D054714:Echinocandins; D011743:Pyrimidines; D014230:Triazoles; D000077612:Anidulafungin; D065819:Voriconazole