KP 103

Description

In October 2013, efinaconazole (also known as KP-103) was approved in Canada as a 10% topical solution for the treatment of onychomycosis. Like other azole antifungal agents, efinaconazole acts by disrupting fungal cell membranes through inhibition of sterol 14α-demethylase, an enzyme involved in the biosynthesis of ergosterol, which is a key component of the fungal cell membrane. Efinaconazole has potent antifungal activity against clinical isolates of dermatophytes, including Trichophyton mentagrophyes (MIC₈₀ =0.125 μg/mL) and Trichophyton rubrum (MIC₈₀ =0.25 μg/mL), as well as against Candida and Malassezia species. Unlike other antifungal agents, efinaconazole retains activity in the presence of keratin, indicating that more unbound drug is available at the site of action. Efinaconazole is efficacious in guinea-pig models of fungal infection. Efinaconazole is prepared by reaction of an epoxide intermediate with 4-methylenepiperidine.

Description

Efinaconazole is a broad-spectrum triazole antifungal agent with activity against Acremonium, Aspergillus, Candida, Cryptococcus, Epidermophyton, Fusarium, Microsporum, Paecilomyces, Pseudallescheria, Scopulariopsis, Trichophyton, and Trichosporon. It inhibits the growth of T. rubrum and T. mentagrophytes clinical isolates with MIC values ranging from ≤2.0 to 60 ng/ml and of C. albicans isolates with MIC values ranging from ≤0.5 to >250 ng/ml. Efinaconazole inhibits sterol 14α-demethylase, which arrests ergosterol biosynthesis at the fungal membrane. It inhibits ergosterol biosynthesis in T. mentagrophytes and C. albicans with IC₅₀ values of 7.0 and 0.40 ng/ml, respectfully. Topical formulations containing efinaconazole have been used for the treatment of onychomycosis.

Originator

Kaken Pharmaceuticals (Japan)

Uses

Efinaconazole has been used as:

• a topical anti-onychomycosis drug to determine its effects on Trichophyton rubrum and Trichophyton interdigitale
• as an anti-fungal agent to study its permeability into the nail lysates
• as an anti-fungal agent to study its effects on Candida africana and Candida dubliniensis

Definition

ChEBI: A member of the class of triazoles that is butan-2-ol which is substituted at positions 1, 2, and 3 by 1,2,4-triazol-1-yl, 2,4-difluorophenyl, and 4-methylenepiperidin-1-yl groups, respectively (the 2R,3R stereoisomer). It is an antifungal drug used for the topical treatment of onychomycosis (a nail infection caused mainly by dermatophytes).

brand name

Jublia

Biochem/physiol Actions

Efinaconazole is a triazole antifungal drug approved clinically for the treatment of nail fungus (Onychomycosis). It inhibits sterol biosynthesis by inhibition of cytochrome P450 14α-demethylase, an enzyme in the sterol biosynthesis pathway that leads from lanosterol to ergosterol. Efinaconazole has better nail penetration, so is more effective than other topical agents and as effective as oral medication for nail fungus.

Synthesis

Commercially available (R)-methyl lactate (55) was first converted to THP protected alcohol 57 in 4 steps and 78% yield via morpholino amide 56. Grignard displacement of the morpholine afforded ketone 58 in 81% yield. Next, ketone 58 was epoxidized by means of the Corey ylide followed by ring-opening of the epoxide by triazole which had been activated by exposure to sodium tbutoxide. Finally, subjection to methanesulfonic acid furnished diol 59 in 51% yield as the corresponding mesylate salt. Diol 59 was then converted to epoxide 60 through the use of mesyl chloride and triethylamine in 78% yield and >99% ee. Finally, treatment of epoxide 60 with 4-methylene piperidine¨CHBr in the presence of lithium hydroxide afforded efinaconazole (VIII) in 87% yield.