title: Tavaborole for the treatment of onychomycosis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Onychomycosis causes approximately one-half of all nail disorders and its prevalence has been steadily increasing. It is difficult to treat, partly due to the subungual location and the inability of both oral and topical antifungals to reach the site of infection. Published cure rates with oral drugs are < 50% and even lower with topical drugs. Pathogenic factors include the diversity of fungal organisms and the difficulty of drugs penetrating the nail plate. Tavaborole is a broad-spectrum oxaborole antifungal agent with low molecular weight, permitting optimal nail plate penetration. In vitro and ex vivo studies have demonstrated the superior nail-penetrating properties of tavaborole compared to existing topical antifungal medications approved for the treatment of onychomycosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  The clinical characteristics and prevalence of onychomycosis, currently available treatments, and the chemistry, safety and pharmacokinetic properties of tavaborole for the treatment of onychomycosis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Tavaborole is a novel, topical antifungal pharmaceutical agent pending FDA approval for the treatment of toenail onychomycosis due to dermatophytes. Efficacy has been demonstrated by a clinical development program including in vitro data and two large Phase III trials that enrolled ∼ 1200 patients. When approved, tavaborole topical solution, 5% may become a safe and effective option for the treatment of onychomycosis.
authors.affiliation: University of Alabama, Department of Dermatology , EFH 414, 1530 3rd Avenue South, Birmingham, AL 35294-0009 , USA +1 205 934 5188 ; beelewski@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Boni E
authors.initials: BE
authors.lastname: Elewski
authors.forename: Antonella
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tosti
mesh_terms: D000287:Administration, Topical; D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001896:Boron Compounds / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019086:Bridged Bicyclo Compounds, Heterocyclic / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D009262:Nails / Q000378:metabolism; D014009:Onychomycosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D010539:Permeability; D019999:Pharmaceutical Solutions
chemical_list: D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local; D000935:Antifungal Agents; D001896:Boron Compounds; D019086:Bridged Bicyclo Compounds, Heterocyclic; D019999:Pharmaceutical Solutions; C512998:tavaborole
keywords: nail penetration; onychomycosis; oxaboroles; pharmacokinetics; tavaborole topical solution