Fluconazole Prophylaxis for the Prevention of Candidiasis in Infants Less Than 750 Grams Birthweight

The most common etiology of infection-related death or neurodevelopmental impairment in
neonates with birthweight <750 g is invasive candidiasis. Over 70% of the premature neonates
who develop invasive candidiasis will die or suffer severe, permanent neurologic impairment.
Fluconazole has been commonly used off-label in the neonatal intensive care unit, but
definitive recommendations for its use in the nursery have been hampered by the limited
number of well-designed trials. In neonates weighing <750 g, appropriate dosing is not known,
definitive safety and long-term follow up trials have not been completed, and there have not
been well-powered trials conducted to establish the efficacy of the product using mortality
as part of the primary endpoint. Three recent proof-of-concept studies suggest that
fluconazole will be safe and effective, and a recently completed pharmacokinetic study is
providing data to give preliminary dosing guidance. The next logical step in drug development
is proposed by this research: to conduct a pivotal trial to determine the safety and efficacy
of fluconazole in premature neonates with 2-year neurodevelopmental follow-up assessment.

362 neonates, with a birthweight <750g, were randomized at 33 US centers, to twice weekly
fluconazole (6 mg/kg) or placebo for the first 6 weeks of life. The primary efficacy endpoint
will be Candida-free survival at study day 49. The research will establish definitive dosing,
safety, and efficacy of fluconazole; it will also provide critical information on the effects
of fluconazole on neurodevelopmental impairment and antifungal resistance.

Potential Impact:

Approximately 17,000 neonates are born <750 grams each year in the United States. Over 5000
will die or develop invasive Candida infections. Demonstrating safety and efficacy of
fluconazole in preterm neonates will improve the survivability and long term outcomes for
these neonates.