[Anidulafungin].

Anidulafungin is a new echinocandin antifungal agent recently approved in Spain by the Spanish Drug Agency. As other echinocandins, it inhibits a selective target, 1,3- beta-D-glucan synthesis, a major structural component of the fungal cell wall which is not present in mammalian cells, this avoiding toxicity problems. It has fungicidal activity against many Candida spp., including fluconazole-resistant, and fungistatic activity against other yeast and moulds such as Aspergillus spp. Clinical trials have shown non-inferiority of anidulafungin to fluconazole for invasive, including candidemia, and non-invasive Candida infections. It is well-tolerated, and no drug-related serious adverse events have been reported. Anidulafungin, which has a very long half life, is slowly degraded by human peptidases and proteases and has a low drug-drug interaction profile based on its lack of interaction with the cytochrome P450 system. Thus, dosing adjustments of anidulafungin based on age, gender, body weight, disease status, concomitant therapy or renal or hepatic insufficiency is not necessary. As it does not interact with amphotericin B and voriconazole, cyclosporine, tacrolimus and other drugs, it can be used in combination with other antifungal agents and co-administered with immunosuppressant drugs. It is generally well-tolerated in clinical trials. Its most frequent adverse events are nausea, vomiting, moderate diarrhea, transient elevation of hepatic enzymes and headache. Some of the patients have mild, passing reactions such as facial blushing, nausea and dyspnea related with rapid intravenous perfusion. Its antifungal activity, clinical efficacy, safety profile, and pharmacokinetic characteristics make it a suitable alternative antifungal compound for therapy of mucosal candidiasis, candidemia and invasive candidiasis, above all in patients with some degree of renal and hepatic insufficiency.