Caspofungin

Abstract

Caspofungin is the first echinocandin compound available for therapy of invasive mycoses. It has a broad antifungal spectrum including Candida spp. and Aspergillus spp. Caspofungin has good activity against various fungi, favourable pharmacological and pharmacodynamic profiles, and excellent tolerability. The target of the echinocandins is the synthetic cell-wall enzyme complex beta-1,3-D-glucan synthase. Thus, caspofungin can be used for treatment of disease caused by fungi resistant to amphotericin B or fluconazole. Generally, caspofungin is used in invasive Candida and Aspergillus infections. The loading dose is 70 mg on day 1, followed by a dose of 50 mg. In patients with a body weight > 80 kg a dose of 70 mg is recommended. Echinocandins are structurally unrelated to all other antifungal drugs so that caspofungin can be given in case of hypersensitivity against azoles or polyenes.