[Fospropofol: A new prodrug of propofol].

The development of new propofol formulations has advanced rapidly in the last ten years with the achievement of the marketing a new prodrug of propofol: fospropofol, pharmacologically different from the original compound. It is a water soluble compound that requires metabolism of the prodrug to propofol, which leads to a time delay between its administration and the appearance of its pharmacological effect. Its pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic characteristics are different to the original formula.