CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY
Pharmacokinetics
In one study conducted in healthy subjects for 14 days, 6 grams of Mentax® (butenafine)
Cream, 1%, was applied once daily to the dorsal skin (3,000 cm2)
of 7 subjects, and 20 grams of the cream was applied once daily to the arms,
trunk and groin areas (10,000 cm2) of another 12 subjects. After
14 days of topical applications, the 6-gram dose group yielded a mean peak plasma
butenafine HCl concentration, Cmax, of 1.4 ± 0.8 ng/mL, occurring at
a mean time to the peak plasma concentration, Tmax, of 15 ± 8 hours,
and a mean area under the plasma concentration-time curve, AUC0-24 hrs
of 23.9 ± 11.3 ng-hr/mL. For the 20-gram dose group, the mean Cmax was
5.0 ± 2.0 ng/mL, occurring at a mean Tmax of 6 ± 6 hours, and
the mean AUC0-24 hrs was 87.8 ± 45.3 ng-hr/mL. A biphasic
decline of plasma butenafine HCl concentrations was observed with the half-lives
estimated to be 35 hours and > 150 hours, respectively.
At 72 hours after the last dose application, the mean plasma concentrations
decreased to 0.3 ± 0.2 ng/mL for the 6-gram dose group and 1.1 ±
0.9 ng/mL for the 20-gram dose group. Low levels of butenafine HCl remained
in the plasma 7 days after the last dose application (mean: 0.1 ± 0.2
ng/mL for the 6-gram dose group, and 0.7 ± 0.5 ng/mL for the 20-gram
dose group). The total amount (or % dose) of butenafine HCl absorbed through
the skin into the systemic circulation has not been quantitated. It was determined
that the primary metabolite in urine was formed through hydroxylation at the
terminal t-butyl side-chain.
In 11 patients with tinea pedis, Mentax® (butenafine) Cream, 1%, was applied by the patients to cover the affected and immediately surrounding skin area once daily for 4 weeks and a single blood sample was collected between 10 and 20 hours following dosing at 1, 2 and 4 weeks after treatment. The plasma butenafine HCl concentration ranged from undetectable to 0.3 ng/mL.
In 24 patients with tinea cruris, Mentax® (butenafine) Cream, 1%, was applied by the patients to cover the affected and immediately surrounding skin area once daily for 2 weeks (mean average daily dose: 1.3 ± 0.2 g). A single blood sample was collected between 0.5 and 65 hours after the last dose, and the plasma butenafine HCl concentration ranged from undetectable to 2.52 ng/mL (mean ± SD: 0.91 ± 0.15 ng/mL). Four weeks after cessation of treatment, the plasma butenafine HCl concentration ranged from undetectable to 0.28 ng/mL.
Microbiology
Butenafine HCl is a benzylamine derivative with a mode of action similar to
that of the allylamine class of antifungal drugs. Butenafine HCl is hypothesized
to act by inhibiting the epoxidation of squalene, thus blocking the biosynthesis
of ergosterol, an essential component of fungal cell membranes. The benzylamine
derivatives, like the allylamines, act an earlier step in the ergosterol biosynthesis
pathway than the azole class of antifungal drugs. Depending on the concentration
of the drug and the fungal species tested, butenafine HCl may be fungicidal
or fungistatic in vitro. However, the clinical significance of these
in vitro data is unknown.
Butenafine HCl has been shown to be active against most strains of the following
microorganisms, both in vitro and in clinical infections as described
in the INDICATIONS section:
Epidermophyton floccosum
Malassezia furfur
Trichophyton mentagrophytes
Trichophyton rubrum
Trichophyton tonsurans
Clinical Studies
Interdigital Tinea Pedis
Once Daily Four Week Dosing
In the following data presentations, patients with interdigital tinea pedis
in the absence of moccasin-type tinea pedis and onychomycosis were studied.
The term “Mycological Cure” is defined as both negative KOH and culture.
The term “Effective Treatment” refers to patients who had a “Mycological
Cure” and an Investigator's Global of either “Excellent” (80% to 99%
improvement) or “Cleared” (100% improvement). The term “Overall Cure”
refers to patients who had both a “Mycological Cure” and an Investigator's
Global Assessment of “Cleared”(100% improvement).
Data from the two controlled studies in which Mentax® (butenafine) Cream, 1%, was used once daily for 4 weeks have been combined in the table below. Patients were treated for 4 weeks and evaluated 4 weeks post-treatment. In the “per protocol” analysis shown in the table below, statistical significance (Mentax® (butenafine) vs. vehicle) was assessed 4 weeks post-treatment.
Interdigital Tinea Pedis: 4-Week Dosing Regimen
Patient Outcome Category |
WEEK 4
(End of Treatment) |
WEEK 8
(4 Weeks Post-Treatment) |
Butenafine |
Vehicle |
Butenafine |
Vehicle |
Mycological Cure |
89%
(83/93) |
57%
(51/90) |
90%
(66/73) |
38%
(25/66) |
Effective Treatment |
57%
(53/93) |
28%
(25/90) |
74%
(54/73) |
26%
(17/66) |
Overall Cure |
15%
(14/93) |
8%
(7/90) |
25%
(18/73) |
9%
( 6/66) |
Twice-Daily One Week Dosing
In the following data presentations, patients with interdigital tinea pedis
in the absence of moccasin-type tinea pedis were studied. Patients with concurrent
onychomycosis were not excluded. The term “Mycological Cure” is defined
as both negative KOH and culture. The term “Effective Treatment” refers
to patients who had a “Mycological Cure” and an Investigator's Global
of either “Excellent” (90% to 99% improvement) or “Cleared” (100% improvement).
The term “Overall Cure” refers to patients who had both a “Mycological
Cure” and an Investigator's Global Assessment of “Cleared” (100% improvement).
Data from the two controlled studies in which Mentax® (butenafine) Cream, 1%, was used twice daily for 1 week have been combined in the table below. Patients were treated for 1 week and evaluated 5 weeks post-treatment. In the “modified-intent-to-treat” analysis shown in the table below, statistical significance (Mentax® (butenafine) vs. vehicle) was assessed 5 weeks post-treatment.
Interdigital Tinea Pedis: 1-Week Dosing Regimen
Patient Outcome Category |
WEEK 1
(End of Treatment) |
WEEK 6
(5 Weeks Post-Treatment) |
Butenafine |
Vehicle |
Butenafine |
Vehicle |
Mycological Cure |
44%
(111/253) |
28%
(75/265) |
79%
(200/253) |
20%
(54/265) |
Effective Treatment |
5%
(12/253) | 3%
(7/265) |
38%
(95/253) |
7%
(18/265) |
Overall Cure |
0.4%
(1/253) |
0.4%
(1/265) |
*15%
(37/253) |
0.7%
(2/265) |
* The Overall Cure Rate of 15% is calculated from a 9% rate
in one trial and a 20% rate in the second trial. |
Tinea Corporis and Tinea Cruris
In the following data presentations, patients with tinea corporis or tinea
cruris were studied. The term “Mycological Cure” is defined as both negative
KOH and culture. The term “Effective Treatment” refers to patients who
had a “Mycological Cure” and an Investigator's Global of either “Excellent”
(90% to 99% improvement) or “Cleared” (100% improvement). The term “Overall
Cure” refers to patients who had both a “Mycological Cure” and an
Investigator's Global Assessment of “Cleared”(100% improvement).
Separate studies compared Mentax® (butenafine) Cream to vehicle applied once daily for 2 weeks in the treatment of tinea corporis and tinea cruris. Patients were treated for 2 weeks and evaluated 4 weeks post-treatment. All subjects with a positive baseline exam (including positive culture and KOH) and who were dispensed medication were included in the “modified intent-to-treat” analysis shown in the table below. Statistical significance (Mentax® (butenafine) vs. vehicle) was achieved for all patient outcome categories at Week 2 (end of treatment) and Week 6 (4 weeks post-treatment).
Tinea Corporis
Patient Outcome Category |
WEEK 2
(End of Treatment) |
WEEK 6
(4 Weeks Post-Treatment) |
Butenafine |
Vehicle |
Butenafine |
Vehicle |
Mycological Cure |
88%
(37/42) |
28%
(10/36) |
88%
(37/42) |
17%
(6/36) |
Effective Treatment |
60%
(25/42) |
17%
(6/36) |
81%
(34/42) |
14%
(5/36) |
Overall Cure |
31%
(13/42) |
3%
(1/36) |
67%
(28/42) |
14%
(5/36) |
Tinea Cruris
Patient Outcome Category |
WEEK 2
(End of Treatment) |
WEEK 6
(4 Weeks Post-Treatment) |
Butenafine |
Vehicle |
Butenafine |
Vehicle |
Mycological Cure |
78%
(29/37) |
11%
(4/38) |
81%
(30/37) |
13%
(5/39) |
Effective Treatment |
57%
(21/37) |
8%
(3/39) |
73%
(27/37) |
5%
(2/39) |
Overall cure |
32%
(12/37) |
8%
(3/39) |
62%
(23/37) |
3%
(1/39) |
Tinea (pityriasis) versicolor
In the following data presentations, patients with tinea (pityriasis) versicolor
were studied. The term “Negative Mycology” is defined as absence of hyphae
in a KOH preparation of skin scrapings, i.e.; no fungal forms seen or the presence
of yeast cells (blastospores) only. The term “Effective Treatment” is
defined as Negative Mycology plus total signs and symptoms score (on a scale
from zero to three) for erythema, scaling, and pruritus equal to or less than
1 at Week 8. The term “Complete Cure” refers to patients who had negative
mycology plus sign/symptoms scores of zero for erythema, scaling, and pruritus.
Two separate studies compared Mentax® (butenafine) Cream to vehicle applied once daily
for 2 weeks in the treatment of tinea (pityriasis) versicolor. Patients were
treated for 2 weeks and were evaluated at the following weeks post-treatment:
2 (Week 4) and 6 (Week 8). All subjects with a positive baseline KOH and who
were dispensed medications were included in the “intent-to-treat” analysis shown
in the table below. Statistical significance (Mentax® (butenafine) vs. vehicle) was achieved
for Effective Treatment, but not Complete Cure at 6 weeks post-treatment in
Study 31. Marginal statistical significance (p = 0.051) (Mentax® (butenafine) vs. vehicle)
was achieved for Effective Treatment but not Complete Cure at 6 weeks post-treatment
in Study 32. Data from these two controlled studies are presented in the table
below.
Tinea Veriscolor
Proportion (%) of responders in pivotal clinical trials (all
randomized patients) |
Patient Response Category |
[email protected] |
Study 31 |
Study 32 |
Butenafine |
Vehicle |
Butenafine |
Vehicle |
Complete Cure * |
2 |
41/87 (47%) |
11/40 (28%) |
29/85 (34%) |
12/41 (29%) |
4 |
43/86 (50%) |
15/42 (36%) |
36/83 (43%) |
13/41 (32%) |
8 |
44/87 (51%) |
15/42 (36%) |
30/86 (35%) |
10/43 (23%) |
Effective Treatment** |
2 |
56/87 (64%) |
16/40 (40%) |
46/85 (54%) |
16/41 (39%) |
4 |
50/86 (58%) |
19/42 (45%) |
45/83 (54%) |
16/41 (39%) |
8 |
48/87 (55%) |
15/42 (36%) |
37/86 (43%) |
11/43 (26%) |
Negative Mycology *** |
2 |
57/87 (66%) |
20/40 (50%) |
57/85 (67%) |
21/41 (51%) |
4 |
51/86 (59%) |
20/42 (48%) |
52/83 (63%) |
18/41 (44%) |
8 |
48/87 (55%) |
15/42 (36%) |
43/86 (50%) |
12/43 (28%) |
@ Week 2 (end of treatment), Week 4 (2 weeks post-treatment), and Week 8 (6 weeks post-treatment)
* Negative Mycology plus absence of erythema, scaling, and pruritus
** Negative Mycology plus no or minimal involvement of erythema, scaling,
or pruritus
*** Absence of hyphae in a KOH preparation of skin scrapings, i.e., no fungal
forms seen or the presence of yeast cells (blastospores) only |
Tinea (pityriasis) versicolor is a superficial, chronically recurring infection
of the glabrous skin caused by Malassezia furfur (formerly Pityrosporum
orbiculare). The commensal organism is part of the normal skin flora. In
susceptible individuals the condition may give rise to hyperpigmented or hypopigmented
patches on the trunk which may extend to the neck, arms and upper thighs. Treatment
of the infection may not be immediately result in restoration of pigment to
the affected sites. Normalization of pigment following successful therapy is
variable and may take months, depending upon individual skin type and incidental
sun exposure. The rate of recurrence of infection is variable.