Two medicines, side by side
Caspofungin vs fluconazole
Caspofungin and fluconazole are both labeled for fungal infections. Drugs@FDA records approvals of caspofungin since 2001 and of fluconazole since 1990. In FDA's classes, caspofungin is an echinocandin antifungal and fluconazole an azole antifungal.
Check it at the source: the caspofungin FDA label on DailyMed (effective October 11, 2024); the fluconazole FDA label on DailyMed (effective April 7, 2026).
Highlights of the caspofungin record
Caspofungin (Cancidas) · label of October 11, 2024
Used for
From the label: indicationsCANCIDAS is an echinocandin antifungal indicated in adults and pediatric patients (3 months of age and older) for: Empirical therapy for presumed fungal infections in febrile, neutropenic patients. ( 1 ) Treatment of candidemia and the following Candida infections: intra-abdominal abscesses, peritonitis and pleural space infections. ( 1 ) Treatment of esophageal candidiasis. […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- January 26, 2001
- Generic labelers
- 5 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- Not in the survey
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- A presentation being discontinued
- Recalls
- 0
Highlights of the fluconazole record
Fluconazole (Diflucan) · label of April 7, 2026
Used for
From the label: indicationsFluconazole tablets are indicated for the treatment of: Vaginal candidiasis (vaginal yeast infections due to Candida ). Oropharyngeal and esophageal candidiasis. […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- January 29, 1990
- Generic labelers
- 41 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.380 per tablet
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 18
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA (Caspofungin label of October 11, 2024, Fluconazole label of April 7, 2026); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do caspofungin and fluconazole differ on the record?
In FDA's classes, caspofungin is an echinocandin antifungal and fluconazole an azole antifungal.
Half-life, in each label's words: Caspofungin, “A short α-phase occurs immediately postinfusion, followed by a β-phase (half-life of 9 to 11 hours) that characterizes …”; Fluconazole, “Peak plasma concentrations (C max ) in fasted normal volunteers occur between 1 and 2 hours with a terminal plasma …”
Generics: caspofungin since 2017; fluconazole since 2004 (Drugs@FDA).
| Caspofungin | Fluconazole | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Fungal infections | Fungal infections, Urinary tract infections |
| Pharmacologic class | Echinocandin Antifungal | Azole Antifungal |
| How it works (label) | Caspofungin is an echinocandin antifungal drug [see Microbiology (12.4) ]. | n/a |
| Half-life (label) | A short α-phase occurs immediately postinfusion, followed by a β-phase (half-life of 9 to 11 hours) that characterizes much of the profile and exhibits clear log-linear behavior from 6 to 48 hours postdose during which … | Peak plasma concentrations (C max ) in fasted normal volunteers occur between 1 and 2 hours with a terminal plasma elimination half-life of approximately 30 hours (range: 20 to 50 hours) after oral administration. |
| Earliest approval on file (Drugs@FDA) | January 26, 2001 | January 29, 1990 |
| First generic approved | September 29, 2017 | July 29, 2004 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 5 labelers | 41 labelers |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | n/a | $0.380 per tablet (Fluconazole 200 mg tablet) |
| 12-month price change | n/a | -10% |
| Boxed warning | No | No |
| Shortage now | A presentation being discontinued | No current entry |
| Recalls recorded | 0 | 18 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 4,684 | 69,671 |
| DEA schedule | none | none |
Source: Drugs@FDA, FDA NDC Directory, CMS NADAC of October 7, 2026, FDA shortages and recalls, FAERS via openFDA (FDA files October 8, 2026)
What next?
- Alternatives to caspofungin
- every medicine labeled for the same conditions