CASPOFUNGIN DIACETATE (C005B-313391)

General description

Caspofungin belongs to the echinocandins class of drugs. This drug has a limited α-phase half-life (t 1/2) of one to two hours (volume of distribution of 9.7L) and a β-phase t 1/2 of nine to 11 hours.

Application

Caspofungin diacetate has been used:

• in an antifungal susceptibility test
• as a standard antifungal for valproic acid (VPA)-synergy assessment
• to treat Cryptococcus neoformans strain B3501 to study natural killer (NK) cell killing of Cryptococcus in the presence of β-1,3-glucan

Biochem/physiol Actions

Caspofungin is an echinocandin antifungal that inhibits 1,3-β-D-glucan synthase, which is required for cell wall synthesis, thereby disturbing the integrity of the fungal cell wall.

Caspofungin, aechinocandin, a lipophilic antifungal drug, and α β-1,3-D-glucan synthesis antagonist, are used in fungal cell wall biosynthesis research to study the role of β-1,3-D-glucans in cell wall integrity and fungal survival under various environmental and chemical stresses. Caspofungin is used to treat esophageal candidiasis, candida infections, febrile neutropenia, invasive candidiasis, and invasive aspergillosis.