A vaginal yeast infection is a fungal infection that causes irritation, discharge, and intense itchiness of the vagina and the vulva. The fungus candida Albicans is responsible for most vaginal yeast infections. Symptoms include swelling around the vagina, burning sensation during urination or sex, whitish-gray and clumpy vaginal discharge, and many others.
In October 2020, SCYNEXIS, Inc., a major player in the vaginal fungi infections treatment market, submitted a New Drug Application (NDA) to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for oral ibrexafungerp for the treatment of vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC), also known as a vaginal yeast infection. Ibrexafungerp is an investigational antifungal agent and the first representative of a novel class of structurally distinct glucan synthase inhibitors, triterpenoids.
Treatment of vaginal yeast infection in women with systemic antifungal agents has proved to be quite successful. This in turn has increased demand for antifungal agents in the vaginal fungi infections treatment market. Candidiasis, which is yeast infection can be very difficult to treat if it is not properly diagnosed. A diagnosis for candidiasis will help doctors decide what drug(s) to prescribe and which combination to expect. Although candidiasis has many different names, all of them mean the same thing - an overgrowth of candida microorganisms within the vagina.
The high prevalence of vaginal candidiasis boosts the growth of the vaginal fungi infections treatment market. Common symptoms of vaginal candidiasis are itching, burning, and thick white discharge from the vagina. Treatment for this condition may include taking prescription medication such as Tioconazole, Fluconazole, Econazole, Co-trimoxazole, Miconazole, and others. Tioconazole is an antifungal medication of the imidazole class used to treat infections caused by a fungus or yeast. Tioconazole ointment reduces vaginal burning, itching, and discharge that may occur with vaginal candidiasis.
There are also several other possible treatment options in the vaginal fungi infections treatment market for vaginal fungal infections including topical prescription medications. Topical medications can be applied directly to the affected area or they can be taken orally with food as a pill. Antifungal creams and ointments containing fluconazole, clotrimazole, or miconazole can also be used for this purpose. In addition to topical prescription treatments, oral medications such as pills containing voriconazole, ketoconazole or econazole are available. However, these products should only be used under a doctor's supervision.