Amphotericin B the First Antifungal Drug Approved by the US

[Guest guest]

Amphotericin B the First Antifungal Drug Approved by the US is Still

Used Despite Its Toxicity Problems

3/14/2006 12:00:00 PM EST

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Research and Markets

(http://www.researchandmarkets.com/reports/c31571) has announced the

addition of Advances in the Treatment of Serious Systemic Fungal

Infections--An Update to their offering

Business Implications

- Many different types of fungi can cause serious systemic

infections in humans, and opportunistic fungal infections are now

recognized as a major problem in immunocompromised patients. In

recent years, the number of patients with severe immunosuppression

has increased dramatically as a result of advances in the life-

prolonging treatment of patients with HIV/AIDS, cancer, and other

conditions.

- The first antifungal drug to be approved in the United States,

amphotericin B, received FDA approval in 1958. Despite its toxicity

problems, amphotericin B is still widely used to treat fungal

infections, and new formulations are in development. Overall, the

antifungal therapeutic market has been stagnating since the

introduction of caspofungin (Mercks Cancidas) and voriconazole

(Pfizers Vfend), both of which were approved in the United States in

2001.

- New azoles and echinocandins are in late-stage development, and

many companies have novel antifungals in early stages of development

that are based on a wide variety of approaches. Additional research

is ongoing to identify novel targets for the treatment of fungal

infections.

- Other factors are changing the antifungals market. The expiration

of the patent for Pfizer's Diflucan (fluconazole) and the emergence

of generic versions will have an immediate impact on the competitive

landscape. Other influential trends include the growing use of

prophylactic and empirical antifungal therapy, and a widening

interest in the potential for combination therapy. We anticipate

significant changes in the antifungal therapy market over the next

few years.

Opportunistic fungal infections are a major problem in

immunocompromised patients. In recent years, the number of patients

with severe immunosuppression has risen dramatically as a result of

advances in the treatment of HIV/AIDS, cancer, and other conditions.

Many strains of fungi are developing resistance to current drugs,

especially fluconazole. As this public health problem reaches a

crisis, the available drugs (polyenes, azoles, pyrimidines, and the

emerging echinocandins) have become inadequate to meet the task.

Only a few antifungals have received approval in the United States,

and these agents have notable limitations, including narrow spectrum

of activity, toxicity (side effects), and emerging fungal

resistance. The significant market opportunity for antifungal drugs

has attracted many pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical companies to

become involved in R & D.

This Decision Resources report gives an overview of opportunistic

and endemic fungal pathogens, current therapies, and emerging

strategies that aim to treat this growing patient population.

Topics Covered

Introduction

Overview of Common Opportunistic and Endemic Fungal Pathogens

Current Therapies for Systemic Fungal Infections

Select Emerging Antifungal Therapies and Strategies

Prospects for Antifungal Therapies

Table 1. Select Fungi That Can Cause Serious Systemic Fungal

Infections

Table 2. Select Antifungal Drugs for the Treatment of Systemic

Fungal Infections

Table 3. Select Companies with Antifungals in Clinical Development

Table 4. Select Companies with Antifungals in Preclinical

Development

Table 5. Estimated Worldwide Sales of Antifungal Products, 2003 and

2008 (millions of U.S. dollars)

Companies Mentioned

- Ace BioSciences and Genmab

- Biodelivery Sciences International

- Diversa

- Ecopia BioSciences

- Elitra Pharmaceuticals

- Entomed

- Enzonb/Zeneus Pharma

- Fujisawaa

- Genelabs Technologies

- Helix BioMedix

- Immtech International

- Inhibitex

- InterMune Pharmaceuticals

- Janssen Pharmaceutica

- Janssen Pharmaceutica

- Merck & Co.

- MycoLogics

- Paratek Pharmaceuticals

- Pfizer

- Pfizer

- Schering-Plough

- Valeant Pharmaceuticals

- Vicuron Pharmaceuticals

For more information visit

http://www.researchandmarkets.com/reports/c31571

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Research and Markets Wood Fax: +353 1 4100 980

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