Pfizer drug cleared to fight deadly bloodstream infection

According to Pfizer, candidemia is the most deadly of the common hospital-acquired bloodstream infections, with a mortality rate of approximately 40%. In the US, candidemia affects approximately one in 5,000 people, resulting in an estimated 60,000 cases each year.

Patients at high risk for candidemia and systemic candidiasis (candida infection that spreads throughout the body) include those with compromised immune systems, stem-cell and organ-transplant recipients, patients on chemotherapy, patients with catheters, critically ill patients in intensive care units, surgical patients and patients on prolonged antibiotic therapy.

“In the clinical trial setting, patients taking Eraxis for the treatment of candidemia had improved efficacy versus those taking fluconazole, making Eraxis an important addition to the options in antifungal treatment,” said Dr Annette Reboli, head of the division of infectious diseases at Cooper University Hospital in Camden, New Jersey, and lead clinical investigator.

The FDA has also approved Eraxis to treat two additional infections caused by the candida fungus-peritonitis and intra-abdominal abscesses – as well as esophageal candidiasis, a fungal infection of the esophagus.

Pfizer added the drug to its portfolio with the acquisition of Vicuron in September 2005.