Luzu (luliconazole) / Bausch Health - LARVOL DELTA

Dual CARD9/GATA2 Mutations Promote Refractory Neoscytalidium dimidiatum Subcutaneous Infection: Synergistic Clearance by Voriconazole and Targeted Hyperthermia (AAD 2026) - "Initial oral itraconazole treatment (200-400 mg/d) showed transient improvement over 3 months but resulted in relapse with drug resistance after discontinuation...Successful management involved voriconazole (400 mg/d) combined with luliconazole cream and localized hyperthermia (42°C/d) based on antifungal susceptibility testing (MIC 0.06 μg/ml) and thermotolerance data showing no growth at 42°C, achieving significant lesion regression within 8 weeks without recurrence during follow-up. Notably, dermoscopic examination identified a "black-red dot sign" on erythematous bases with yellowish scales that resolved alongside clinical improvement, suggesting potential as a fungal subcutaneous infection biomarker. This case highlights CARD9/GATA2 mutations as possible contributors to chronic fungal infections and drug resistance mechanisms in immunocompetent individuals while demonstrating the therapeutic value of combined antifungal and thermotherapy..."

Cardiovascular • Hypertension • Infectious Disease • Inflammation • CARD9 • GATA2

Hydrogen-bonding functionalities of selected azole drugs in multicomponent crystals with trithiocyanuric acid. (PubMed, Acta Crystallogr C Struct Chem) - "The azole APIs include imidazole-derived econazole and luliconazole, as well as 1,2,4-triazole-derived isavuconazole, voriconazole and posaconazole, and the crystalline forms reported are econazolium trithiocyanurate, C18H16Cl3N2O+·C3H2N3S3-, luliconazole-trithiocyanuric acid (1/1), C14H9Cl2N3S2·C3H3N3S3, isavuconazole-trithiocyanuric acid (1/1), C22H17F2N5OS·C3H3N3S3, voriconazole-trithiocyanuric acid-water (1/2/3), C16H14F3N5O·2C3H3N3S3·3H2O, and posaconazole-trithiocyanuric acid (1/1), C37H42F2N8O4·C3H3N3S3. To elucidate the nature of these key interactions, a QTAIM analysis was performed and pairwise interaction energies were evaluated to clarify the stability and energetics of the resulting assemblies. The influence of chiral azole molecules, their specific hydrogen-bond functionalities and the solvation conditions on the formation of the supramolecular motifs is also discussed."

Journal

Formulation Design Using Ionic Liquids to Enhance Luliconazole Topical Efficacy Against Superficial Candida Albicans Mycosis. (PubMed, Ann Pharm Fr) - "It also demonstrated superior antifungal activity against Candida albicans compared to that of marketed formulations. The improved permeation and antifungal activity of LCZ-IL-gel indicate its strong potential for clinical translation as a more effective topical therapy for superficial fungal infections."

Journal • Dermatology • Infectious Disease

Potential therapeutic role of luliconazole against azole-resistant invasive aspergillosis in a murine model (ESCMID Global 2026) - No abstract available

Preclinical • Respiratory Diseases

Optimized polymeric micellar In situ gel formulation incorporating luliconazole for targeted management of fungal endophthalmitis: In vitro characterization, ex vivo ocular permeation, and in vivo ocular irritation evaluation. (PubMed, Exp Eye Res) - "Antifungal studies indicated significant efficacy against pathogenic fungi, while in vivo ocular irritation tests in rabbits showed good tolerance. In conclusion, the obtained results suggested that developed polymeric micellar in situ gel can serve as a promising drug delivery system to enhance LCZ ocular antifungal activity."

Journal • Preclinical • Ocular Infections • Ocular Inflammation • Ophthalmology

SeDeM and Powder flow tools-assisted design of solid SMEDDS of luliconazole for antifungal therapy. (PubMed, Ther Deliv) - "The solid SMEDDS powders became free flowing, showing enhanced ex vivo drug release (39% wheat straw, 29.74% Neusilin® US2, n = 3) and improved transdermal permeation (47.89% and 45.27%, n = 3), with strong antifungal activity against Candida albicans (zones of inhibition: 22 ± 1 mm and 20 ± 1.2 mm) but limited effect on Aspergillus niger. The S-SMEDDS platform enhanced luliconazole solubility, transdermal delivery, and stability, offering a safe, effective, and scalable topical formulation for fungal infections and a practical route for industrial-scale production."

Journal • Infectious Disease

Formulation and evaluation of a dual-drug film-forming topical gel for synergistic antifungal therapy against cutaneous candidiasis. (PubMed, J Pharm Sci) - "In this work, a chitosan-based film-forming gel (FFG) was developed incorporating luliconazole (LUL) and carvacrol (CAR) to improve dermal delivery and therapeutic performance...Safety was confirmed through skin irritation and histopathological evaluations, and stability analysis demonstrated robustness for six months. These findings establish CAR-LUL FFG as a promising topical platform for effective management of resistant Candida infections."

Journal • Candidiasis • Infectious Disease

Enhanced antifungal therapy for cutaneous candidiasis: Development, evaluation, and optimization of luliconazole-loaded transethosomal gel. (PubMed, J Pharm Sci) - "In vivo studies in a Candida-infected rat model showed a 1.50-fold reduction in treatment duration with the LCZ-TEG formulation. These findings suggest that the developed LCZ-TEG significantly improves the solubility, skin penetration, and antifungal efficacy of luliconazole, supporting its potential as a promising, efficient, and targeted therapy for Cutaneous Candidiasis."

Journal • Candidiasis • Dermatology • Infectious Disease

P versicolor: Comparison of the Efficacy of Topical Luliconazole 2% Cream vs Topical Ketoconazole 1% Cream in the Treatment of Pityriasis Versicolor. (clinicaltrials.gov) - P4 | N=86 | Not yet recruiting | Sponsor: PAEC General Hospital, Islamabad

New P4 trial

Luliconazole-Loaded Nanoliposomes as a Repurposing Strategy to Combat Memory Dysfunction in LPS-Induced Alzheimer's Rats. (PubMed, ACS Omega) - "The histopathological observation of brain tissue in the LuNLs/control group further substantiated the in vivo behavioral study data. Based on the reports, luliconazole may be used as a viable, efficacious alternative for the treatment of AD, though further preclinical studies are highly warranted."

Journal • Preclinical • Alzheimer's Disease • CNS Disorders • Infectious Disease

Quality-by-design-steered development of luliconazole-loaded ultra-deformable ethosomes for topical delivery: improved dermatokinetics and antifungal activity. (PubMed, Int J Pharm) - "Sustained intradermal LCZ levels minimized sub-therapeutic exposure that drives fungal resistance. By uniting nanoscale vesicle engineering, ethanol-enhanced skin permeation, and QbD-optimized composition, this study delivers a stable, safe, and efficacious topical nanoplatform with potential to transform dermatophytosis management and mitigate antifungal resistance."

Journal • Dermatology • Hematological Disorders

Development and In Vivo Evaluation of QbD-Assisted Squalene-based Luliconazole Entrapped Ethosomal Gel for the Skin Fungal Infection. (PubMed, AAPS PharmSciTech) - "Histopathology studies further supported the efficacy of the optimized ETs-gel formulation. Overall, squalene-based ethosomes emerge as promising carriers for enhancing the topical delivery and localized effectiveness of Luliconazole."

Journal • Preclinical • Infectious Disease

The First Isolation of Multiple Antifungal-Drug-Resistant Trichophyton Rubrum in China and the Novel Resistance Mechanism. (PubMed, Mycoses) - "Drug-resistant T. rubrum has emerged in China, indicating the possibly increasing severity of antifungal resistance. The complex mechanism of multidrug-resistant dermophytes poses challenges to clinical treatment, needing more attention."

Journal • Dermatology • Infectious Disease

Human-like Biofilm Models to Study the Activity of Antifungals Against Aspergillus fumigatus. (PubMed, Microorganisms) - "Here, two human-like models, precision cut lung slices (PCLS) and a biofilm co-culture model, have been developed to test the anti-biofilm activity of voriconazole, amphotericin B, as well as luliconazole against A. fumigatus. In the PCLS assay, amphotericin B showed the strongest inhibition after 24 h. In conclusion, the applied PCLS ex vivo model can be used to study the property and activity of certain antifungal compounds against Aspergillus biofilm. With its close resemblance to human conditions, the PCLS model has the potential for improving the current understanding of biofilm treatments in laboratory settings."

Journal • Pulmonary Disease • Respiratory Diseases

Beyond the surface: Unlocking enhanced antifungal efficacy through comparison between luliconazole alone and luliconazole with salicylic acid peel synergy in dermatophytosis. (EADV 2025) - "This study reveals compelling evidence for the superior efficacy of combining 30% salicylic acid peel with luliconazole 1% cream in treating superficial dermatophytosis, demonstrating significant advantages in several key areas: Lesion reduction, safety profile, pruritus relief, accelerated recovery, providng important clinical implications, potentially reshaping treatment protocols for superficial dermatophytosis. **"

Clinical • Aesthetic Medicine • Contact Dermatitis • Dermatitis • Dermatology • Immunology • Pruritus

Comparing emollient use with topical luliconazole (azole) in the maintenance of remission of chronic and recurrent dermatophytosis. An open-label, randomized prospective active-controlled non-inferiority study (EADV 2025) - "The present study concluded that the efficacy of emollient was not inferior to topical luliconazole for maintaining remission in chronic and recurrent dermatophytosis"

Clinical • Head-to-Head • Dermatology

The Potential of Luliconazole as an Adjuvant Therapy for Terbinafine-Resistant Trichophyton Species (EADV 2025) - "Clinical outcomes varied; several cases reported complete resolution with luliconazole monotherapy, while others required adjunctive treatment with systemic antifungals such as itraconazole or fosravuconazole. Luliconazole shows promise as a therapeutic option for terbinafine-resistant dermatophytosis, particularly when used adjunctively. Its high potency, favorable safety profile, and efficacy across various Trichophyton species support its potential role in clinical management. However, current evidence is limited to small-scale studies and case reports."

Clinical • Dermatology • Infectious Disease

The prevalence of pediatric nosocomial fungal infections. (PubMed, Iran J Microbiol) - "Caspofungin and luliconazole were effective antifungal agents for isolated fungi. The rate of mortality in infected patients suffering from proven and probable infections was 15.4% (6/39 cases). Due to the high mortality rates of fungal infections in pediatrics, it is essential to identify modifiable risk factors, and implement control measures along with early detection techniques in pediatric populations."

Journal • Infectious Disease • Oncology • Pediatrics

The efficacy of luliconazole and caspofungin on planktonic and biofilm of Candida albicans from different sources. (PubMed, Iran J Microbiol) - "The MICs of biofilms were 15.6, and 171.3 higher than that of planktonic cells for caspofungin and luliconazole, respectively. Moreover, paradoxical and trailing effects occurred at 4 and 32 μg/mL of caspofungin and luliconazole, respectively."

Journal • Candidiasis • Gastrointestinal Disorder • Gynecology • Solid Tumor • Vaginitis

Topical Luliconazole Treatment for Hyperkeratotic Tinea Pedis. (PubMed, Mycopathologia) - "The resistant case showed a partial improvement with topical luliconazole and was successfully treated with oral fosravuconazole. These findings suggest that 1% topical luliconazole is effective for treating hyperkeratotic tinea pedis."

Journal • Dermatology • Infectious Disease

Primary Cutaneous Adiaspiromycosis: A Case Report and Review of the Literature. (PubMed, Turk Patoloji Derg) - "Adiaspiromycosis is a rare fungal infection and primary cutaneous involvement is a rare distinct entity. Detailed morphological assessment in histopathology is essential for its identification as the organisms are difficult to isolate in fungal culture from human clinical material."

Journal • Human Immunodeficiency Virus • Infectious Disease • Inflammation

Luliconazole bilosomal gel for treating fungal infection: development, optimization and antifungal activity. (PubMed, Ther Deliv) - "Antifungal study for LZBS gel demonstrated superior activity against Candida albicans as compared to marketed and pure drug. Thus, luliconazole-loaded bilosome gel proved to be effective against fungal infections."

Journal • Infectious Disease

In vitro susceptibility profiles of 16 antifungal drugs against Trichophyton indotineae. (PubMed, Microbiol Spectr) - "Luliconazole and amorolfine exhibited low MICs, while itraconazole showed moderately decreased susceptibility, making them preferred treatment options...In contrast, terbinafine, fluconazole, griseofulvin, oteseconazole, isavuconazole, ravuconazole, and amphotericin B exhibited elevated MICs for many strains, with strong correlations between certain azoles, indicating potential cross-resistance. A difference in the susceptibility to terbinafine and voriconazole between Chinese and Indian isolates was observed...Its resistance to first-line antifungal agents, particularly terbinafine and fluconazole, has significantly limited treatment options, emphasizing the urgent need for alternative therapies. This study provides comprehensive antifungal susceptibility data for 16 available antifungal agents, offering valuable insights into potential treatment strategies."

Journal • Preclinical • Dermatology • Infectious Disease

Dermatophytosis in a Healthy Adolescent: A Report of Terbinafine-Resistant Trichophyton indotineae Infection in Kuwait. (PubMed, Cureus) - "The patient was subsequently treated with topical clotrimazole 1% twice daily and luliconazole 1% cream at night, which led to the significant clinical improvement and complete resolution of the rash within two weeks. This case highlights the growing concern of antifungal resistance in dermatophyte infections, particularly against terbinafine, one of the most commonly prescribed treatments. The increasing prevalence of resistant Trichophyton strains underscores the need for antifungal susceptibility testing in refractory cases and the consideration of alternative treatment strategies."

Journal • Dermatology • Infectious Disease

Concurrent chromoblastomycosis and subcutaneous phaeohyphomycosis by different pathogens in a renal transplant recipient. (PubMed, Diagn Microbiol Infect Dis) - "Oral itraconazole and topical luliconazole led to healing of both lesions within six months of therapy. This case highlights the emergence of rare opportunistic fungal pathogens causing concurrent skin infections in an immunocompromised patient. This warrants investigation of their epidemiology and virulence to implement preventive measures in renal transplant recipients."

Journal • Dermatology • Infectious Disease • Pain • Transplantation