Clinical Study of Liranaftate (ZEFNART^®) Cream for Tinea Unguium

Abstract

Effects against tinea unguium were evaluated on a preparation composed of a combination of liranaftate cream (anti-fungal cream for topical use) and urea ointment (possessing horny layer-softening activity). [Subjects] The study involved patients satisfying all of the following requirements: (1) diagnosed as having tinea unguium or tinea pedis on the basis of positive findings from direct microscopy and (2) patients not indicated for oral anti-fungal drug therapy or (3) patients desiring topical anti-fungal drug therapy. [Methods] At bedtime, a 1 : 1 mixture of liranaftate cream and urea ointment was simply applied to the test site of each subject. [Results] In 16 of the 22 patients, opacity alleviated following treatment, and it disappeared completely in one patient. "Prominent" or better improvement was seen in 4.5% of all cases, "moderate" or better improvement seen in 13.6% and "slight" or better improvement in 59.1%. Thus, the responses to this therapy were comparable to those previously reported for topical anti-fungal drug therapy. Since patients with tinea unguium are often unable to take oral anti-fungal drugs because these drugs are listed as requiring particular care or drugs that are concomitantly contraindicated for these patients, we strongly believe that liranaftate cream should be considered as an alternative for treatment of tinea unguium.