Rezafungin in special populations with candidaemia and/or invasive candidiasis

Abstract

Achieving and maintaining therapeutic drug exposures with antifungals can be challenging in special patient populations, such as those with organ dysfunction (liver or kidney) or obesity, or elderly patients, due to dose–exposure relationships and potential drug–drug interactions. Dose adjustments may be needed in these populations to maintain therapeutic efficacy and/or prevent toxicity. We reviewed specific dosing considerations for antifungals in special populations with candidaemia and/or invasive candidiasis, focusing on those relating to echinocandins (based on prescribing information), and then explored the utility of the second-generation echinocandin rezafungin in treating these populations (based on currently available data identified from a PubMed and congress abstract search). Available data showed that echinocandins may sometimes require dosing modifications for special populations with candidaemia/invasive candidiasis, primarily due to decreases in pharmacokinetic exposures. Rezafungin appears to be suitable for use in a variety of special populations without the need for dose modifications based on available data, including patients with organ dysfunction or obesity, and elderly and critically ill patients. Further research is needed in populations where rezafungin data are not available including children, people living with HIV, patients receiving extracorporeal membrane oxygenation and those with underlying neurological conditions.