Caspofungin: the first agent available in the echinocandin class of antifungals

Joseph Rybowicz, PharmD, and Cheryle Gurk-Turner, RPh

From the Department of Pharmacy Services, Baylor University Medical Center, Dallas, Texas.

Corresponding author: Cheryle Gurk-Turner, RPh, Department of Pharmacy Services, Baylor University Medical Center, 3500 Gaston Avenue, Dallas, Texas 75246 (e-mail: ck.turner@baylorhealth.edu).

Caspofungin acetate (Cancidas, MK-0991, L-743,872) is a parenteral antifungal agent indicated in the treatment of invasive aspergillosis in patients who are intolerant of or whose infection is refractory to other antifungal therapies. It is the first member of a novel class of antifungals, the echinocandins, to be made available in the USA. As a class, the echinocandins possess a mechanism of action that is distinct from those of the polyenes, azoles, allylamines, or flucytosine. Echinocandins inhibit synthesis of Beta-(1,3)-D-glucan, a component of fungal cell walls. (BUMC Proceedings 2002;15:97-99)

Headings: Spectrum of activity, Pharmacokinetics, Adverse effects, Drug interactions, Dosing recommendations, Clinical trials, Economic issues, Summary