Find information on thousands of medical conditions and prescription drugs.

Cancidas

Caspofungin is an antifungal drug, the first of a new class termed the echinocandins. It shows activity against infections with Aspergillus and Candida, and works by inhibiting cell wall synthesis. It is administered intravenously. more...

Home
Diseases
Medicines
A
B
C
Cabergoline
Caduet
Cafergot
Caffeine
Calan
Calciparine
Calcitonin
Calcitriol
Calcium folinate
Campath
Camptosar
Camptosar
Cancidas
Candesartan
Cannabinol
Capecitabine
Capoten
Captohexal
Captopril
Carbachol
Carbadox
Carbamazepine
Carbatrol
Carbenicillin
Carbidopa
Carbimazole
Carboplatin
Cardinorm
Cardiolite
Cardizem
Cardura
Carfentanil
Carisoprodol
Carnitine
Carvedilol
Casodex
Cataflam
Catapres
Cathine
Cathinone
Caverject
Ceclor
Cefacetrile
Cefaclor
Cefaclor
Cefadroxil
Cefazolin
Cefepime
Cefixime
Cefotan
Cefotaxime
Cefotetan
Cefpodoxime
Cefprozil
Ceftazidime
Ceftriaxone
Ceftriaxone
Cefuroxime
Cefuroxime
Cefzil
Celebrex
Celexa
Cellcept
Cephalexin
Cerebyx
Cerivastatin
Cerumenex
Cetirizine
Cetrimide
Chenodeoxycholic acid
Chloralose
Chlorambucil
Chloramphenicol
Chlordiazepoxide
Chlorhexidine
Chloropyramine
Chloroquine
Chloroxylenol
Chlorphenamine
Chlorpromazine
Chlorpropamide
Chlorprothixene
Chlortalidone
Chlortetracycline
Cholac
Cholybar
Choriogonadotropin alfa
Chorionic gonadotropin
Chymotrypsin
Cialis
Ciclopirox
Cicloral
Ciclosporin
Cidofovir
Ciglitazone
Cilastatin
Cilostazol
Cimehexal
Cimetidine
Cinchophen
Cinnarizine
Cipro
Ciprofloxacin
Cisapride
Cisplatin
Citalopram
Citicoline
Cladribine
Clamoxyquine
Clarinex
Clarithromycin
Claritin
Clavulanic acid
Clemastine
Clenbuterol
Climara
Clindamycin
Clioquinol
Clobazam
Clobetasol
Clofazimine
Clomhexal
Clomid
Clomifene
Clomipramine
Clonazepam
Clonidine
Clopidogrel
Clotrimazole
Cloxacillin
Clozapine
Clozaril
Cocarboxylase
Cogentin
Colistin
Colyte
Combivent
Commit
Compazine
Concerta
Copaxone
Cordarone
Coreg
Corgard
Corticotropin
Cortisone
Cotinine
Cotrim
Coumadin
Cozaar
Crestor
Crospovidone
Cuprimine
Cyanocobalamin
Cyclessa
Cyclizine
Cyclobenzaprine
Cyclopentolate
Cyclophosphamide
Cyclopropane
Cylert
Cyproterone
Cystagon
Cysteine
Cytarabine
Cytotec
Cytovene
Isotretinoin
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
N
O
P
Q
R
S
T
U
V
W
X
Y
Z

Indications

Currently caspofungin acetate has been approved by the FDA for the treatment of invasive aspergillosis in patients whose disease is refractory to, or who are intolerant of, other first-line antifungal agents (i.e. conventional or liposomal amphotericin B preparations and flucytosine or itraconazole). Caspofungin acetate itself has so far not been studied as first-line therapy for aspergillosis or other mycotic diseases.

Off-Label Use

Caspofungin can be tried as empirical therapy against invasive forms of Candidosis in adult patients.

Clinical Efficacy

Thirty six (36) percent of patients refractory to other therapies responded well to caspofungin therapy, while even 70% of patients intolerant to other therapies were classified as responders. Direct comparative studies to other drugs in the treatment of invasive aspergillosis have so far not been undertaken.

Contraindications

Known hypersensitivity to caspofungin acetate or any other ingredient contained in the formulation

Warnings

  • Hepatic Effects

The concomitant use of caspofungin and cyclosporine in healthy volunteers led to a more frequent increase of liver enzymes (ALT=SGPT and AST=SGOT) than noted with cyclosporine alone. Combination treatment is only indicated, if the potential benefit for the patient outweighs the potential risk.

Dosage reduction in patients with moderately impaired liver function is recommended. No clinical data exists regarding the use of caspofungin in patients with severely impaired liver function.

  • Sensitivity Reactions

Reactions due to histamine release (rash, facial swelling, pruritus, sensation of warmth and one case of anaphylaxis) have been seen. Those reactions should be carefully watched for.

  • Drug Resistance

In clinical studies development of resistance in Aspergillus spp., the causative fungus of aspergillosis, has so far not been seen. Likewise, experiments on the emergence of resistance with fungi-cultures and studies in animals were negative. However, the emergence of resistance cannot be excluded.

Pregnancy and Lactation

Caspofungin has been assigned to class C.

Capsofungin is found in the milk of lactating rats; it is not known, whether this effect can be seen in women, too. Lactating women should be treated cautiously.

Geriatric Patients

Ordinarily, no dose adjustments are necessary.

Pediatric Patients

There is no sufficient clinical experience to judge the safety and efficacy in patients younger than 18 years of age.

Read more at Wikipedia.org


[List your site here Free!]


Cancidas
From OB/GYN News, 3/15/01 by Elizabeth Mechcatie

(caspofungin acetate, Merck)

An antifungal for treating invasive aspergillosis in people who don't respond to or can't tolerate other antifungal treatments, including amphotericin B. This is the first agent in a new class of antifungals, the echinocandins or glucan synthesis inhibitors, to be approved.

* Recommended Dosage: A loading IV dose of 70 mg, followed by 50 mg IV once a day; duration of treatment depends on response and other factors.

* Special Considerations: In trials of more than 600 patients and healthy volunteers, the most common side effects included fever, infused vein complications, nausea, vomiting, and flushing, each reported in almost 3% of subjects. Not recommended with cyclosporine. Has not been studied as initial treatment for invasive aspergillosis.

* Comment: Cancidas inhibits the synthesis of an essential component of the fungal cell wall. In an open-label trial of 69 immunocompromised patients aged 18-80 years with invasive aspergillosis who were refractory to or intolerant of other antifungals, 41% (26) of the 63 patients who received at least one dose of Cancidas had complete resolution or clinically meaningful improvement. Of the 52 patients who were treated for more than 7 days, 50% had a favorable response.

Mortality rates in invasive aspergillosis range from 50% to more than 90%, despite current treatments, according to Merck.

COPYRIGHT 2001 International Medical News Group
COPYRIGHT 2001 Gale Group

Return to Cancidas
Home Contact Resources Exchange Links ebay