Two medicines, side by side
Caspofungin vs micafungin
Caspofungin and micafungin are both labeled for fungal infections. Drugs@FDA records approvals of caspofungin since 2001 and of micafungin since 2005. How each works, in its label's words: Caspofungin, “Caspofungin is an echinocandin antifungal drug [see Microbiology (12.4) ].”; Micafungin, “Micafungin is a member of the echinocandin class of antifungal agents [see Microbiology ( 12.4 )].”
Check it at the source: the caspofungin FDA label on DailyMed (effective October 11, 2024); the micafungin FDA label on DailyMed (effective November 8, 2025).
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 micafungin record
Micafungin (Mycamine) · label of November 8, 2025
Used for
From the label: indicationsMicafungin for injection is indicated for: Treatment of Candidemia, Acute Disseminated Candidiasis, Candida Peritonitis and Abscesses in adult and pediatric patients 4 months of age and older [see Clinical Studies ( 14.1 ) and Use in Specific Populations ( 8.4 )]. […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- March 16, 2005
- Generic labelers
- 10 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- Not in the survey
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- A presentation being discontinued
- Recalls
- 4
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA (Caspofungin label of October 11, 2024, Micafungin label of November 8, 2025); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do caspofungin and micafungin differ on the record?
How each works, in its label's words: Caspofungin, “Caspofungin is an echinocandin antifungal drug [see Microbiology (12.4) ].”; Micafungin, “Micafungin is a member of the echinocandin class of antifungal agents [see Microbiology ( 12.4 )].”
Both are in FDA's class echinocandin antifungals.
Generics: caspofungin since 2017; micafungin since 2019 (Drugs@FDA).
| Caspofungin | Micafungin | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Fungal infections | Fungal infections |
| Pharmacologic class | Echinocandin Antifungal | Echinocandin Antifungal |
| How it works (label) | Caspofungin is an echinocandin antifungal drug [see Microbiology (12.4) ]. | Micafungin is a member of the echinocandin class of antifungal agents [see Microbiology ( 12.4 )]. |
| 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 … | n/a |
| Earliest approval on file (Drugs@FDA) | January 26, 2001 | March 16, 2005 |
| First generic approved | September 29, 2017 | May 17, 2019 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 5 labelers | 10 labelers |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | n/a | n/a |
| 12-month price change | n/a | n/a |
| Boxed warning | No | No |
| Shortage now | A presentation being discontinued | A presentation being discontinued |
| Recalls recorded | 0 | 4 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 4,684 | 6,383 |
| 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