The therapeutic efficacy of
KP-103, a
triazole derivative, for 10 guinea pigs with interdigital
tinea pedis or
tinea corporis was investigated. Topical
KP-103 solution (0.25 to 1%) was dose-dependently effective in treating both
dermatophytoses. A 1% KP-103-treatment rendered all infected skins culture-negative on day-2 posttreatment. A high negative-culture rate was obtained with 1% solutions of
butenafine and
lanoconazole but not with 1%
neticonazole solution. The follow up study performed on day-30 and day-9 posttreatment demonstrated that the relapse rates for 1% KP-103-treated animals with
tinea pedis and for those with
tinea corporis were 20 and 30%, respectively, and that these values were the same as those for 1%
butenafine-treated animals, but lower than those for 1%
lanoconazole-treated animals (55 and 80%, respectively). When a single dose of 1%
KP-103 was applied to the back skin 48 hr before fungal inoculation, 9 of the 10 animals were protected from the
dermatophytosis, suggesting that active
KP-103 is retained in skin tissue for at least 48 hr after dosing. Moreover, it was suggested that
KP-103 retains a high activity in the horny layer because of its lower
keratin-affinity. The effectiveness of
KP-103 against
dermatophytoses may be due to the favorable pharmacokinetic properties in the skin tissues, together with its potent antifungal activity.