Published on Infection and Drug Resistance Journal:

Tinea is superficial fungal infections typically caused by dermatophytes. Common pathogens include Trichophyton rubrum, Trichophyton mentagrophytes, and Epidermophyton floccosum. Superficial fungal infections are widespread, with an estimated worldwide prevalence of 20%–25%, and include tinea pedis (athlete’s foot), tinea cruris (jock itch), and tinea corporis (ringworm), among others.

Topical allylamine (terbinafine and butenafine) and imidazole (clotrimazole and bifonazole) antifungals are popular treatment choices for infections of the feet, body, and groin. 

However, current imidazole antifungals have some limitations: conventional use has produced fungal resistance and many agents require treatment courses lasting several weeks, which can contribute to patient nonadherence, and ultimately, disease recurrence.

TAKE HOME MESSAGE:

·       Luliconazole is a novel imidazole derivative, which has demonstrated efficacy against dermatophytes and Candida. The results from Phase III trials show that luliconazole 1% cream applied once daily for 2 weeks successfully resolved the clinical signs and symptoms as well as eradicated the pathologic fungi, which cause tinea pedis.

·       A 1-week treatment with luliconazole 1% cream also produced favorable clinical and mycological results in clinical trials for tinea corporis and tinea cruris. 

·       The development of a new antifungal agent is timely due to mounting resistance among existing treatments. Because luliconazole requires a short duration of treatment, it may assist in reducing disease recurrence as a result of patient nonadherence.

·       The results summarized demonstrate that luliconazole 1% cream is effective for the treatment of superficial fungal infections, with comparable Adverse Effects (AEs) to existing antifungals.

·       Luliconazole 1% cream’s short duration of treatment (2 weeks for tinea pedis, 1 week for tinea cruris/corporis) is an advantage given that patient compliance with longer treatment regimens is a challenge.

CONCLUSION:

Luliconazole represents a new addition to the imidazole antifungal arsenal, which may help abate mounting fungal resistance due to the commonplace use of topical agents and help prevent disease recurrence due to patient nonadherence.