FDA approves expanded use of Cresemba

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Friday approved Cresemba (isavuconazonium sulfate), an azole antifungal drug, for the treatment of invasive aspergillosis (IA) and invasive mucormycosis (IM) in pediatric patients.

Marketed in the USA by Japanese drug major Astellas Pharma (TYO: 4503) under license from Swiss drugmaker Basilea Pharmaceutica (SIX: BSLN), Cresemba for injection is approved for adults and now for pediatric patients aged one year and older. Cresemba capsules are approved for adults and now for pediatric patients six years of age and older who weigh 16 kilograms (kg) and greater.

With this approval, Cresemba is now the only azole antifungal therapy approved for the treatment of IA and IM in patients as young as one.