Isavuconazole safe and effective to treat aspergillus infection in patients with cancer

the Oncology Nurse Advisor take:

According to new research presented at the 54th Interscience Conference on Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy (ICAAC 2014), isavuconazole is as effective as voriconazole for the treatment of aspergillus infection in patients with cancer. In the phase 3 study comparing isavuconazole, new antifungal agent, with voriconazole in patients with uncontrolled cancer, researchers found that the two agents were equally efficacious against the invasive fungal disease.

Furthermore, researchers observed fewer adverse effects associated with isavuconazole versus voriconazole. Compared with those that took voriconzaole, patients who took isavuconazole had less ocular, epidermal, and hepatobiliary toxicity.

Fungal infections caused by aspergillus and other fungi can be particularly harmful in immunocompromised patients undergoing treatment for cancer. These fungal infections often increase morbidity and mortality in these patients, especially those with hematological malignancies like leukemia and lymphoma.

Based on the results of the study, Astellas and Basilea Pharmaceutica International Ltd. have submitted a new drug application to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for isavuconazole for the treatment of invasive aspergillosis and invasive mucormycosis.