Rezafungin is a novel, once-weekly echinocandin antifungal being developed for the first-line treatment of
candidemia and invasive candidiasis as well as for the prophylaxis of invasive fungal infections in patients undergoing allogeneic blood and marrow transplantation, for which no new therapies have been approved in over 13 years.
Cidara is currently advancing its novel echinocandin antifungal, rezafungin acetate, in a Phase 3 clinical trial for the first-line treatment of
candidemia and/or invasive candidiasis (ReSTORE).
Reports indicate that the fungus spreads quickly in critically ill patients and those undergoing invasive procedures, producing
candidemia, pericarditis, and respiratory and urinary tract infections.
The incidence of
candidemia cases is increased by malignancies, immunosuppressive diseases or treatments, use of broad-spectrum antibiotics and corticosteroids, aggressive chemotherapy and some major surgical procedures all over the world (2,3).
Candidemia, a bloodstream infection caused by Candida species, is typically considered a health care-associated infection, with known risk factors including the presence of a central venous catheter, receipt of total parenteral nutrition or broad-spectrum antibiotics, recent abdominal surgery, admission to an intensive care unit, and prolonged hospitalization (1,2).
Four patients were admitted to the medical intensive care unit; 2 had prolonged stays in the medical intensive care unit before development of
candidemia.
(17) It has been reported to be the cause of invasive infections (
candidemia) with a high incidence of mortality (approaching 60 percent).
Epidemiology of
Candidemia at a University Hospital in Colombia, 2008-2014
(6.) Bouza E, Munoz P Epidemiology of
candidemia in intensive care units.
Furthermore,
candidemia has mortality rates between 40 and 60%, the diagnosis and treatment are difficult and expensive (Colombo et al., 2006; Tumbarello et al., 2007; Wenzel, 1995).
For years, the management of central venous catheters (CVCs) in patients with
candidemia had never been controversial until the publication of two review papers from our group (1,2) challenging the international consensus that all CVCs should be removed in all patients with
candidemia.
A prospective observational study of
candidemia: epidemiology, therapy, and influences on mortality in hospitalized adult and pediatric patients.