In vitro and in vivo evaluation of antifungal agents.

The evaluation of any antifungal agent involves the determination of its in vitro and in vivo activity against pathogenic and/or opportunistic fungi. The in vitro evaluation is followed by an in vivo evaluation in animal models, and clinical trials in humans. From the first report of the efficacy of the iodides for the treatment of sporotrichosis (1903) until the introduction of the imidazoles (azoles, 1960s), the number of antifungal agents available was very limited, including griseofulvin (1939), nystatin (1950), amphotericin B (1956), and flucytosine (1964). This paper briefly reviews the status of the antifungal agents currently used, and gives a more in depth evaluation of progress during recent years in the search for new antifungal drugs. Efforts to improve the efficacy of the current antifungal agents are also reviewed.