Caspofungin

DB00520ApprovedInvestigationalSmall moleculeEchinocandin Antifungal

Caspofungin is an echinocandin used to treat a variety of fungal infections. Caspofungin (brand name Cancidas worldwide) is an antifungal drug and the first member of a new drug class called the echinocandins, as coined by Merck & Co., Inc.

Mechanism: Caspofungin inhibits the synthesis of beta-(1,3)-D-glucan, an essential component of the cell wall of Aspergillus species and Candida species. beta-(1,3)-D-glucan is not present in mammalian cells. The primary target is beta-(1,3)-glucan synthase.
Curator reviewed
Primary indication: For the treatment of esophageal candidiasis and invasive aspergillosis in patients who are refractory to or intolerant of other therapies.Curator reviewed · 8 structured indications
Formula / weight: C₅₂H₈₈N₁₀O₁₅ · 1093.331 g/mol (avg)
First approval: Canada, 2005 · United States, 2001 · European Union, 2016
Code names: L 743,872 · MK 0991
Brand names: Cancidas

Resolves to

Compound

UNIIF0XDI6ZL63CAS162808-62-0ChEMBLCHEMBL1630575ChEBI474180PubChem16119814KEGGD07626

Clinical / RWD

RxNorm140108ATCJ02AX04PharmGKBPA164743013

Structure

InChIKeyJYIKNQVWKBUSNH-WVDDFWQHSA-NSMILES

[H][C@@]12C[C@@H](O)CN1C(=O)[C@@H](NC(=O)[C@]([H])(C[C@@H](O)[C@@H](NCCN)NC(=O)[C@@H]1[C@@H](O)CCN1C(=O)[C@@H](NC(=O)[C@@H](NC2=O)[C@H](O)[C@@H](O)C1=CC=C(O)C=C1)[C@H](O)CCN)NC(=O)CCCCCCCC[C@@H](C)C[C@@H](C)CC)[C@@H](C)O

Targets

A2QLK4fksAP40989GSC2

Transporters

O15245SLC22A1P08183ABCB1Q4U2R8SLC22A6Q9Y6L6SLCO1B1Q9NPD5SLCO1B3

What you can answer from here — as of September 23, 2026

2Protein targetsEach mapped to UniProt, with action and pharmacological action

Listed above

5TransportersSubstrate / inhibitor direction, not just membership

Listed above

216Drug interactionsStructured to mechanism, not free text

68Clinical trialsPhase, status and sponsor resolved per trial

8Structured indicationsCondition, population, route and combination as fields, not prose