Nystatin is a polyene ionophore antifungal used to treat cutaneous, mucocutaneous, and gastrointestinal mycotic infections, particularly those caused by Candida species. Nystatin is a polyene antifungal drug that has broad-spectrum fungicidal and fungistatic activity against a number of yeasts and fungi, most notably Candida species.
- Mechanism
- Curator reviewed · 4 references
Nystatin is a channel-forming ionophore, meaning it exerts its therapeutic effect via formation of a membrane-spanning pore in the fungal plasma membrane. The formation of this pore results in a change in membrane permeability that allows for leakage of intracellular contents and the subsequent disruption of electrochemical gradients necessary for proper cell function. Selectivity for fungal cells over mammalian cells is due to nystatin’s greater binding affinity for ergosterol, a key sterol found in fungal cell walls, as opposed to its mammalian counterpart, cholesterol.
- Primary indication
- Nystatin is available in oral formulations for the treatment and/or prevention of oral candidiasis (a.k.a. thrush), intestinal candidiasis, and anal candidiasis.Curator reviewed · 19 structured indications
- Formula / weight
- C47H75NO17 · 926.107 g/mol (avg)
- First approval
- Canada, 1998 · United States, 1971
- Brand names
Resolves to
VQOXZBDYSJBXMA-NQTDYLQESA-NSMILES[H][C@]12C[C@@H](O[C@@H]3O[C@H](C)[C@@H](O)[C@H](N)[C@@H]3O)\C=C\C=C\C=C\C=C\CC\C=C\C=C\[C@H](C)[C@@H](O)[C@@H](C)[C@H](C)OC(=O)C[C@H](O)C[C@H](O)C[C@H](O)CC[C@@H](O)[C@H](O)C[C@](O)(C[C@H](O)[C@H]1C(O)=O)O2What you can answer from here — as of September 23, 2026
Which other approved drugs treat the same conditions as Nystatin, and which companies have late-stage candidates in those indications?
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