Description: Liranaftate (formerly M-732; Piritetrate; Zefnart) is a thiocarbamate-based inhibitor of squalene epoxidase with fungicidal activities. It inhibits fungal squalene epoxidase, which is an enzyme that plays a key role in the synthesis of sterol, compouds essential for cell membrane integrity. By preventing ergosterol synthesis and causing accumulation of squalene, this agent increases cell membrane permeability, cell leakage and eventually cell lysis. Liranaftate showed excellent fungistatic activity against the conidia of T. rubrum. For each of these agents, the MIC after 14 days of contact was 0.009 g/ml. The liranaftate-induced decrease in the MCC occurred from 9 days onwards; MCC at 14 days was 0.039 g/ml. In time-kill studies, liranaftate showed the greatest decrease to a below detection limit in viable counts of T rubrum. The degree of killing of the strain by amorolfine was not greater than that seen by liranaftate, and little reduction of the viable counts by luliconazole and ketoconazole was observed irrespective of concentrations of the agents.

References: [1]. Oku, Y., et al., [Fungicidal activity of liranaftate against Trichophyton rubrum]. Nihon Ishinkin Gakkai Zasshi, 2002. 43(3): p. 181-7.