Micafungin: a therapeutic review.

Abstract

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.

• Authors: Yasuhito Higashiyama, Shigeru Kohno
• Journal: Expert review of anti-infective therapy (Expert Rev Anti Infect Ther) Vol. 2 Issue 3 Pg. 345-55 (Jun 2004) ISSN: 1478-7210 [Print] England
• PMID: 15482200 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Review)

Chemical References

• Antifungal Agents
• Echinocandins
• Lipopeptides
• Lipoproteins
• Peptides, Cyclic
• Micafungin

Topics

• Animals
• Antifungal Agents (chemistry, pharmacokinetics, pharmacology, therapeutic use)
• Aspergillosis (drug therapy, microbiology)
• Candidiasis, Oral (drug therapy, microbiology)
• Child
• Clinical Trials as Topic
• Drug Interactions
• Echinocandins
• Fungi (drug effects)
• HIV Infections (complications)
• Humans
• Lipopeptides
• Lipoproteins (chemistry, pharmacokinetics, pharmacology, therapeutic use)
• Micafungin
• Mycoses (drug therapy, microbiology, prevention & control)
• Peptides, Cyclic (chemistry, pharmacokinetics, pharmacology, therapeutic use)