Anidulafungin
Encyclopedia
Anidulafungin or Eraxis (Ecalta in Europe) is an antifungal drug originally manufactured and submitted for FDA approval by Vicuron Pharmaceuticals. Pfizer
acquired the drug upon its acquisition of Vicuron in the fall of 2005. Pfizer gained approval by the Food and Drug Administration
(FDA) on February 21, 2006; it was previously known as LY303366. There is preliminary evidence it has a similar safety profile to caspofungin
. It has proven efficacy against oesophageal candidiasis, but its main use will probably be in invasive Candida
infection; it will probably also have application in treating invasive Aspergillus
infection. It is a member of the class of antifungal drugs known as the echinocandin
s; its mechanism of action is by inhibition of (1→3)β-D-glucan synthase, which is an important component of the fungal cell wall.
and temperature. Because it does not rely on enzymatic degradation or hepatic or renal excretion, the drug is safe to use in patients with any degree of hepatic or renal impairment.
Distribution: 30-50 L
Protein binding: 84%
There is no evidence anidulafungin is metabolized by the liver. Research has shown this specific drug undergoes slow chemical hydrolysis to an open-ring peptide which lacks antifungal activity. The half life of the drug is 27 hours. Thirty percent is excreted in the feces (10% as unchanged drug). Less than 1% is excreted in the urine.
Pfizer
Pfizer, Inc. is an American multinational pharmaceutical corporation. The company is based in New York City, New York with its research headquarters in Groton, Connecticut, United States...
acquired the drug upon its acquisition of Vicuron in the fall of 2005. Pfizer gained approval by the Food and Drug Administration
Food and Drug Administration
The Food and Drug Administration is an agency of the United States Department of Health and Human Services, one of the United States federal executive departments...
(FDA) on February 21, 2006; it was previously known as LY303366. There is preliminary evidence it has a similar safety profile to caspofungin
Caspofungin
Caspofungin is an antifungal drug, the first of a new class termed the echinocandins from Merck & Co., Inc. It shows activity against infections with Aspergillus and Candida, and works by inhibiting the enzyme β-D-Glucan synthase and thereby disturbing the integrity of the fungal cell wall...
. It has proven efficacy against oesophageal candidiasis, but its main use will probably be in invasive Candida
Candida (genus)
Candida is a genus of yeasts. Many species are harmless commensals or endosymbionts of animal hosts including humans, but other species, or harmless species in the wrong location, can cause disease. Candida albicans can cause infections in humans and other animals, especially in immunocompromised...
infection; it will probably also have application in treating invasive Aspergillus
Aspergillus
Aspergillus is a genus consisting of several hundred mold species found in various climates worldwide. Aspergillus was first catalogued in 1729 by the Italian priest and biologist Pier Antonio Micheli...
infection. It is a member of the class of antifungal drugs known as the echinocandin
Echinocandin
Echinocandins are antifungal drugs that inhibit the synthesis of glucan in the cell wall, probably via noncompetitive inhibition of the enzyme 1,3-β glucan synthase and are thus called penicillin of antifungals . Beta glucans are polymers which, linked in their tens of thousands, make up cell wall...
s; its mechanism of action is by inhibition of (1→3)β-D-glucan synthase, which is an important component of the fungal cell wall.
Pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics
Anidulafungin significantly differs from other antifungals in that it undergoes chemical degradation to inactive forms at body pHPH
In chemistry, pH is a measure of the acidity or basicity of an aqueous solution. Pure water is said to be neutral, with a pH close to 7.0 at . Solutions with a pH less than 7 are said to be acidic and solutions with a pH greater than 7 are basic or alkaline...
and temperature. Because it does not rely on enzymatic degradation or hepatic or renal excretion, the drug is safe to use in patients with any degree of hepatic or renal impairment.
Distribution: 30-50 L
Protein binding: 84%
There is no evidence anidulafungin is metabolized by the liver. Research has shown this specific drug undergoes slow chemical hydrolysis to an open-ring peptide which lacks antifungal activity. The half life of the drug is 27 hours. Thirty percent is excreted in the feces (10% as unchanged drug). Less than 1% is excreted in the urine.