PHARMANEST : AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ADVANCES IN PHARMACEUTICAL SCIENCES - Volume 4, Issue 6, November - December 2013

Pages: 1114-1122

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ECHINOCANDINS- A REVIEW

Author: POOJAPRAJWAL*, SHARATHKUMAR K, MOHANDAS RAI, MANOHARVR, SPARSHADEEP EM

Category: Pharmaceutical Sciences

Abstract:

Echinocandins are considered to be large molecules from the perspective of drugs used for medical purposes.Echinocandins are able to kill most types Candida species, a type of yeast, and at least prevent the progression of growth of one type of mould called Aspergillusspp. They have modest activity against dimorphic fungi and have little activity against other types of moulds. The semisynthetic pneumocandinanalogs of echinocandins were later found to have the same kind of antifungal activity, but low toxicity. The different echinocandins have been evaluated and are currently used for the different diseases in humans. Poor absorption after oral administration limits use to the intravenous route. Dosing is once daily and drug interactions are few. Adverse events are generally mild, including (for caspofungin) local phlebitis, fever, abnormal liver function tests, and mild haemolysis. Absence of antagonism in combination with other antifungal drugs suggests that combination antifungal therapy could become a general feature of the echinocandins, particularly for invasive aspergillosis.

Keywords: Echinocandins, caspofungin, micafungin, anidulafungin