Echinocandins

How it works

Ring peptides with a fatty tail that stop fungi building their cell wall, which human cells lack. For Candida in the blood.

What it's made of

A ring of 6 amino acids with a fatty tail, taken from fungi and tweaked in the lab. Caspofungin comes from Glarea lozoyensis; anidulafungin and rezafungin, from Aspergillus nidulans.

What it's for

Prescribed for

Candidemia (Candida in the blood) and other invasive candidiasis; candidiasis of the esophagus. Caspofungin, also resistant aspergillosis and fever in people without immune defenses.