Dear Healthcare Practitioner,

RE: NEW ERAXIS® (anidulafungin) NOW AVAILABLE

Pfizer Anti-infectives is pleased to inform you that ERAXIS® (anidulafungin), an IV antifungal in the echinocandin class, is now available.

Indication: For adults with invasive candidiasis, including candidaemia1.

Statistically superior efficacy vs fluconazole1

ERAXIS® is superior to fluconazole in the treatment of invasive candidiasis, including candidaemia1,2:

• 76% successful response against all Candida spp. (versus 60% for fluconazole, P=0.01) 2

• 81% successful response against C. albicans (versus 62% for fluconazole, P=0.02)2

No dose adjustment required in organ failure (renal or hepatic insufficiency)1

ERAXIS® is not hepatically metabolised and has negligible renal clearance (<1%). Anidulafungin undergoes slow chemical degradation at physiologic temperature and pH to a ring-opened peptide that lacks antifungal activity. The ring-opened product is subsequently converted to peptidic degradants and eliminated mainly through biliary excretion1.

Suitable for transplant population - no known clinically relevant drug interactions1

No dosage adjustment of either drug is required when ERAXIS® is used concomitantly with the common transplant medications cyclosporin and tacrolimus1.

Dosing: A single 200 mg loading dose should be administered on Day 1, followed by 100 mg daily thereafter1.

Price and availability

Please speak directly with your Hospital Pharmacist for further information about the price and availability of ERAXIS®.

Formulary Listing: A formulary kit is available upon request, if required.

If you have any questions about ERAXIS® or require a formulary kit, please contact:

Pfizer Medical Information: 1800 675 229; email or

Pfizer Representative (insert name): <insert no.>; email <insert email>.

Yours sincerely,

Roopi Kalsi

Senior Brand Manager ERAXIS, Pfizer Specialty Care

ERAXIS® (anidulafungin 100 mg) Powder for Injection. BEFORE PRESCRIBING REFER TO THE ENCLOSED FULL PRODUCT INFORMATION (Available at www.pfizer.com.au). Use: Invasive candidiasis, including candidaemia. Contraindications: Hypersensitivity to anidulafungin or any excipients or to other medicines of the echinocandin class. Precautions: Infusion-related reactions: Must not be given by bolus injection. Infusion rate must not exceed 1.1 mg/minute; Hepatic effects; Children < 18 years; Pregnancy Category B3: ensure effective contraception; Lactation. Interactions: No clinically relevant interactions. (See full PI). Adverse Reactions: Common - thrombocytopenia, coagulopathy, hyperkalaemia, hypokalemia, hypomagnesaemia, convulsion, headache, flushing, diarrhoea, abnormal LFTs, rash, pruritis, increased blood bilirubin and creatinine, decreased platelet count, QT prolonged. Others - neutropenia, leukopenia, anaemia, paraesthesia, central pontine myelinolysis, Guillain-Barré syndrome, deafness, hypotension, hepatic necrosis, angioneurotic oedema, renal failure. (See full PI). Dosage: 200 mg loading dose and 100 mg daily thereafter. Should not exceed 1 month. Reconstituted with WFI and diluted with 0.9% NaCl or 5% glucose. (See full PI). Pfizer Pty Ltd, ABN 50 008 422 348, 38-42 Wharf Road, West Ryde, NSW 2114. Based on TGA approved Product Information of 25 March 2009 and amended 24 June 2009. ERAXIS® is a registered trademark. References: 1.ERAXIS® Approved Product Information, 25 March 2009; 2. Reboli AC et al, NEJM 2007; 356(24): 2472-82