Tavaborole (AN-2690) for the treatment of onychomycosis of the toenail in adults

Abstract

Onychomycosis is a challenging nail disease that is difficult to treat due to the thickness and impermeability of the nail plate. At present, systemic agents are the first-line of treatment for this type of infection; however, topical treatment is recommended in milder cases (<50% involvement) or when oral treatment is contraindicated. Effective topical treatments capable of penetrating the nail plate and reaching the site of infection continue to be sought. Tavaborole, the first member of a new class of boron-containing antifungals, is a lightweight, water-soluble topical nail solution for the treatment of toenail onychomycosis. Tavaborole has a unique mechanism of action against fungal organisms and retains antifungal properties in the presence of keratin. Tavaborole 5.0% nail solution has shown a favourable safety and efficacy profile in Phase II/III clinical trials and is currently under review for licensing in the US by the US Food and Drug Administration.

Keywords: antifungal; benzoxaborole; dermatophytes; onychomycosis; protein synthesis inhibitor; toenail; topical.