Luliconazole is a novel topical antifungal
imidazole with broad-spectrum and potent antifungal activity. The
drug is under clinical development in the United States for management of
dermatophytosis with a short-term treatment regimen. The present study was undertaken to investigate the clinical benefit of short-term
therapy with
luliconazole cream in guinea pig models of
tinea corporis and
tinea pedis induced with Trichophyton mentagrophytes. The dose-dependent therapeutic efficacy of topical
luliconazole cream (0.02 to 1%), measured by macroscopic improvement of skin lesions and by fungal eradication as determined by a culture assay, was demonstrated using a
tinea corporis model. The improvement in skin lesions seen with
luliconazole cream was observed even at a concentration of 0.02%, and its efficacy at 0.1% was equal to that of 1%
bifonazole cream. The efficacy of short-term
therapy with 1%
luliconazole cream, which is used for clinical management, was investigated using the
tinea corporis model (4- and 8-day treatment regimens) and the
tinea pedis model (7- and 14-day treatment regimens). The 1%
luliconazole cream completely eradicated the fungus in half or less of the treatment time required for 1%
terbinafine cream and 1%
bifonazole cream, as determined by a culture assay for both models. These results clearly indicate that 1%
luliconazole cream is sufficiently potent for short-term treatment for
dermatophytosis compared to existing drugs.
Luliconazole is expected to be useful in the clinical management of
dermatophytosis.