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Cancidas (CASPOFUNGIN)
Cancidas (generic name: CASPOFUNGIN) is a Echinocandin Antifungal Small molecule drug developed by Merck & Co.. It is currently FDA-approved (first approved 2001) for Candida Peritonitis, Candida Pleural Space Infection, Candidemia.
Cancidas works by inhibiting the synthesis of beta-1,6-glucan, a critical component of the fungal cell wall.
At a glance
| Generic name | CASPOFUNGIN |
|---|---|
| Sponsor | Merck & Co. |
| Drug class | Echinocandin Antifungal |
| Target | ATP-binding cassette sub-family G member 2 |
| Modality | Small molecule |
| Therapeutic area | Infectious Disease |
| Phase | FDA-approved |
| First approval | 2001 |
Mechanism of action
Caspofungin is an echinocandin antifungal drug [see Microbiology 12.4)].
Approved indications
- Candida Peritonitis
- Candida Pleural Space Infection
- Candidemia
- Candidiasis of the esophagus
- Intra-Abdominal Candida Abscess
- Refractory Aspergillosis
Common side effects
- Pyrexia
- Diarrhea
- ALT/AST increased
- Blood potassium decreased
- Blood alkaline phosphatase increased
- Chills
- Hypotension
- Rash
- Alanine Aminotransferase Increased
- Aspartate Aminotransferase Increased
- Blood Bilirubin Increased
- Blood Magnesium Decreased
Drug interactions
- ciclosporin
- tacrolimus
Key clinical trials
- A Phase 3 Efficacy and Safety Study of Fosmanogepix for the Treatment of Adult Participants With Candidemia and/or Invasive Candidiasis. (PHASE3)
- Pharmacokinetics of Caspofungin in Burn Patients (PHASE2,PHASE3)
- PK/PD of Caspofungin in Children Severe Infection
- Study of Rezafungin Compared to Standard Antimicrobial Regimen for Prevention of Invasive Fungal Diseases in Adults Undergoing Allogeneic Blood and Marrow Transplantation (PHASE3)
- A Phase 3, Randomized, Double-blind Study for Patients With Invasive Candidiasis Treated With IV Echinocandin Followed by Either Oral Ibrexafungerp or Oral Fluconazole (PHASE3)
- Pharmacokinetic Study on Echinocandins for Patients With Septic Shock Following Secondary Peritonitis (EPI Study) (PHASE4)
- Voriconazole and Caspofungin Acetate in Treating Invasive Fungal Infections in Patients With Weakened Immune Systems (PHASE2)
- A Study Comparing Short-course Antifungal Therapy (SCAT) 7 Day vs Standard 14 Day Antifungal Therapy for Uncomplicated Candidemia
Patents
| Patent | Expiry | Type |
|---|---|---|
Primary sources
Every claim on this page is sourced from regulatory or scientific primary sources. See our editorial policy for full methodology.
| Source | Used for |
|---|---|
| FDA label | Mechanism, indications, dosing, boxed warnings, drug interactions |
| ClinicalTrials.gov | Trial enrolment, design, endpoints, results |
| FDA Orange Book | Patents + exclusivity |
Competitive intelligence
For the full competitive landscape — auto-detected comparators, recent regulatory actions across the set, upcoming PDUFA, patent timeline, sponsor landscape:
- Cancidas CI brief — competitive landscape report
- Cancidas updates RSS · CI watch RSS
- Merck & Co. portfolio CI
Frequently asked questions about Cancidas
What is Cancidas?
Cancidas (CASPOFUNGIN) is a Echinocandin Antifungal drug developed by Merck & Co., indicated for Candida Peritonitis, Candida Pleural Space Infection, Candidemia.
How does Cancidas work?
Cancidas works by inhibiting the synthesis of beta-1,6-glucan, a critical component of the fungal cell wall.
What is Cancidas used for?
Cancidas is indicated for Candida Peritonitis, Candida Pleural Space Infection, Candidemia, Candidiasis of the esophagus, Intra-Abdominal Candida Abscess.
Who makes Cancidas?
Cancidas is developed and marketed by Merck & Co. (see full Merck & Co. pipeline at /company/merck).
What is the generic name of Cancidas?
CASPOFUNGIN is the generic (nonproprietary) name of Cancidas.
What drug class is Cancidas in?
Cancidas belongs to the Echinocandin Antifungal class. See all Echinocandin Antifungal drugs at /class/echinocandin-antifungal.
When was Cancidas approved?
Cancidas was first approved on 2001.
What development phase is Cancidas in?
Cancidas is FDA-approved (marketed).
What are the side effects of Cancidas?
Common side effects of Cancidas include Pyrexia, Diarrhea, ALT/AST increased, Blood potassium decreased, Blood alkaline phosphatase increased, Chills.
What does Cancidas target?
Cancidas targets ATP-binding cassette sub-family G member 2 and is a Echinocandin Antifungal.
Related
- Drug class: All Echinocandin Antifungal drugs
- Target: All drugs targeting ATP-binding cassette sub-family G member 2
- Manufacturer: Merck & Co. — full pipeline
- Therapeutic area: All drugs in Infectious Disease
- Indication: Drugs for Candida Peritonitis
- Indication: Drugs for Candida Pleural Space Infection
- Indication: Drugs for Candidemia
Primary sources · FDA · ClinicalTrials.gov · EMA · SEC EDGAR · ChEMBL · Wikidata · full sourcing