Geplaatst:27 feb 2006 08:40 - Gewijzigd: 27 feb 2006 08:40

Blood-infection drug is approved

ROCKVILLE - The USA Food and Drug Administration in Rockville (Maryland) have said it approved a new drug by Pfizer Inc. to treat certain candida infections, including a common, deadly hospital-acquired bloodstream infection.

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Eraxis is an antifungal medication to treat this bloodstream infection, known as candidemia. Pfizer said the infection has a mortality rate of about 40% and affects about 60,000 patients a year in the USA. The infection can spread throughout the bloodstream and infect many organs. „Bloodstream infections such as candidemia can spread quickly and are very dangerous, especially for patients with weakened immune systems”, said Joseph Feczko, Pfizer’s chief medical officer.

The drug, known generically as anidulafungin, was also approved to treat peritonitis, an inflammation of the membrane lining the abdominal wall, and esophageal candidiasis, a fungal infection of the esophagus. (The Wall Street Journal)