Investigational Antifungal Agents
Several new antifungal agents, including novel compounds in familiar classes and entirely new classes targeting previously untapped mechanisms, are in various stages of the drug development process. Many new triazole antifungal agents are being studied, including voriconazole, posaconazole, and ravuconazole. The echinocandin antifungals, which represent a new class of antifungal agents, possess activity against a variety of fungal pathogens. The sodarin derivatives and nikkomycins are two additional classes of antifungals in early stages of development; future studies will determine their therapeutic usefulness.

Many potentially useful antifungal agents are under development. Some of them are of the well-known triazole antifungal class, and others are entirely new classes that use a variety of targets to exert their activity. Several agents are primed for approval by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and others are in earlier stages of development and may not be approved for some time.