The Diflucan story

The discovery of Diflucan (fluconazole) was a major landmark in the pharmaceutical industry, as it was the first antifungal drug to be developed that could be used both orally, for minor infections such as candidiasis, or intravenously for more serious systemic infection like cryptococccal meningitis.

Fluconazole development was based on two initial assumptions by the scientists involved: firstly that drugs should be tested in experimental models of infections, and secondly that a polar molecule might have superior pharmacological properties. The developers took these two ideas as a starting point and went through a rigorous process to find the right compound. Eventually they came across 2-(2,4-difluorophenyl)-1,3-bis (1H-1,2,4-triazol-1-yl)-2-propanol, that is fluconazole. This report details the progressive discovery of fluconazole and all the intermediate steps and compounds found along the way. The report also describes the general development of drugs, the history of antifungal agents of the past and examines the major agents currently available. There is also a section devoted to the clinical and pharmacological profile of fluconazole, and any considerations concerning the future development of antifungal agents.

Diagnosis – research resources