In a double-blind phase III study the efficacy and tolerance of
eberconazole 1% cream was compared with
clotrimazole 1% cream, applied twice daily for four consecutive weeks in 157 patients, with mycologically proven cutaneous candidosis (24 patients, 25 infected sites) and in 133 patients with dermatophyte skin
infections (141 treated sites). The analysis was carried out by number of infected and treated sites. The four groups of sites and the distribution of target lesions were similar. The distribution of the sum of clinical scores and infecting organisms were also similar. There were no differences between the groups in terms of the range and mean duration of
infection. At the end of
therapy and on follow-up in skin candidosis the proportion of patients with effective treatment was 73 and 50% for
clotrimazole and
eberconazole, respectively. Premature termination due to adverse effects was 26.7% for
clotrimazole and 20% for
eberconazole. At the end of treatment of dermatophyte
infections the proportion of patients with effective treatment was 46% for
clotrimazole and 61% for
eberconazole. At the overall assessment (6 weeks after the end of treatment)
eberconazole was judged effective in 72% of treated sites, whereas
clotrimazole was effective in 61%, this difference was not statistically significant (P = 0.15). There were three relapses (4%) in the
clotrimazole-treated group and one relapse (1%) in the
eberconazole group. One patient treated with
eberconazole cream (1%) had a premature termination due to adverse events attributable to the medication.