[Voriconazole: a new weapon against invasive fungal infections]

Voriconazole is a fluoropyrimidine derivative of fluconazole with an extended spectrum of activity, non-linear pharmacokinetic characteristics, available intravenously and orally with an excellent bioavailability, and a good penetration into tissues including the brain. It is metabolized in the liver by the cytochrome P450 and less than 1% is eliminated in the urine. Voriconazole has been studied extensively in numerous randomized clinical trials of invasive fungal infections and became the therapy of choice of invasive aspergillosis, fusariosis and scedosporiosis. Voriconazole is an alternative for invasive candidiasis refractory or resistant to fluconazole. Voriconazole has a good tolerability and acceptable safety profile and has added a new weapon to our therapeutic armamentarium against fungi.