Study of an Antifungal Medicine Isavuconazole Used in Treatment of Mold Infections in China: A Plain Language Summary

Abstract

What is this summary about?

Molds are types of fungus that can cause sickness and death. Mold infections are increasing in China. Until 2022, medicines that can effectively treat all mold infections were still lacking in China. This summary of a study originally published in the journal Infection and Drug Resistance. The study took place in China and tested a medicine called isavuconazole on mold samples to check if isavuconazole can be used to treat mold infections. Isavuconazole became available in China in January 2022 as a capsule (a hard gel-covered pill filled with a dose of medicine) and in June 2022 as an injection or a shot.

What were the results?

Isavuconazole stopped the growth of most molds. Other medicines were needed at higher amounts to stop the growth of molds.

What do the results of the study mean?

Isavuconazole is another option to treat mold infections in China.

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Keywords::

• amphotericin B
• invasive aspergillosis
• invasive mold infection
• invasive mucormycosis
• isavuconazole
• lay summary
• plain language summary
• voriconazole

This article is related to:

In vitro Activity of Isavuconazole and Comparators Against Clinical Isolates of Molds from a Multicenter Study in China

Acknowledgements

The study was performed by the Department of Clinical Laboratory, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, China, and supported by Pfizer Inc. We thank IHMA Europe Sarl, Switzerland for providing technical guidance. Writing support for this PLSP was provided by Arjun Krishnakumar; editorial support was provided by Varkha Agrawal (both PhD, CMPP^™), employees of Pfizer.

Financial & competing interests disclosure

Pfizer, Special Foundation for National Science and Technology Basic Research Program of China, Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities, and the Beijing Key Clinical Specialty for Laboratory Medicine Excellent Project all supported this work. IM received an institutional research grant. JAA was an employee of Pfizer when study was conducted. JW and EAU are employees of Pfizer and may hold stock/stock options. IM was an employee of IHMA Europe at the time of the study and is currently Founder and Consultant at Antimicrobial Focus Ltd, UK. The authors report no other conflicts of interest in this work.

Additional information

Funding

Pfizer, Special Foundation for National Science and Technology Basic Research Program of China, Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities, and the Beijing Key Clinical Specialty for Laboratory Medicine Excellent Project all supported this work. IM received an institutional research grant. JAA was an employee of Pfizer when study was conducted. JW and EAU are employees of Pfizer and may hold stock/stock options. IM was an employee of IHMA Europe at the time of the study and is currently Founder and Consultant at Antimicrobial Focus Ltd, UK. The authors report no other conflicts of interest in this work.