Tavaborole - a treatment for onychomycosis of the toenails.

INTRODUCTION: Onychomycosis is a fungal nail infection that accounts for half of all nail diseases. Oral drugs on the market have adverse effects, while it is difficult for traditional topical drugs to penetrate the nail plate to reach the diseased nail bed. Tavaborole is a new drug that addresses the unmet needs of currently available treatments. Tavaborole (5%) is FDA approved for treating toenail onychomycosis and has shown antifungal activities against yeast, moulds and dermatophytes.

AREAS COVERED: The objective of this article is to review the efficacy, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and safety of tavaborole for treatment of toenail onychomycosis. Expert commentary: Tavaborole, with its unique mechanism, may be a good candidate for use in treating children with fungal infections, diabetic individuals, and treating mixed infections. Tavaborole may be paired with other therapies to potentially increase cure rates.