Isavuconazole: a new and promising antifungal triazole for the treatment of invasive fungal infections.

Invasive fungal infections (IFIs) are an important cause of morbidity and mortality. Isavuconazole (BAL4815) is a promising novel broad-spectrum triazole in late-stage clinical development that has proven to be active in vitro against Aspergillus, Candida and Cryptococcus neoformans, the most common agents of IFIs. Furthermore, isavuconazole has a pharmacokinetic profile that allows oral and intravenous administration with no severe toxicity. In vivo data from animal models are also encouraging. However, very little information on clinical efficacy is available. Four clinical trials are currently in progress to demonstrate the safety and efficacy of isavuconazole for the treatment and prevention of IFIs. In the absence of clinical and cost data, the real possibilities of this agent as a competitor for the treatment and prevention of IFIs in the clinical setting are still unknown.