Antifungal nail lacquer and method using same

Abstract

A nail lacquer for the treatment or prevention of fungal infections, such as, onychomycosis, includes fungicidally effective amount of ciclopirox, econazole, or other antifungal agent in a compatible film-forming lacquer vehicle which includes a water-insoluble film-forming polymer; pentadecalactone, or similar cyclic lactone compound or derivative thereof, and volatile solvent. The pentadecalactone functions as a plasticizer for the film-forming polymer and as a penetration enhancer for the antifungal agent. The composition, when applied to the nails provides a hard, clear, water-resistant film containing the antifungal agent. The compositions are used for the treatment of onychomycosis.

What we claim is:  
     
         1 . A composition comprising: 
 a plasticizing and penetration enhancing effective amount of a compound of the following formula (I):                          A is is group having the structure                          m and n are integers having a value from 1 to 20 and the sum of m+n is not greater than 25,    p is an integer having a value of 0 or 1,    q is an integer having a value of 0 or 1,    r is an integer having a value of 0 or 1,    R represents hydrogen or a straight or branched chain alkyl group having from 1 to 6 carbon atoms, and,    R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , R 4 , R 5  and R 6 , each, independently, represent hydrogen or a straight or branched chain alkyl group having from 1 to 6 carbon atoms, with the proviso that only one of R 1  to R 6  may be said alkyl group, and with the further proviso that, when p, q and r have a value of 0, m+n is at least 11;    water-insoluble, film-forming polymer; and, volatile solvent;    the composition forming, upon evaporation of the volatile solvent, a hard, water-resistant film.    
     
     
         2 . The composition of  claim 1  wherein the film-forming polymer comprises a water-insoluble film-forming polymer selected from the group consisting of acrylate polymers, methacrylate polymers, and copolymers of alkyl vinyl ether and maleic anhydride.  
     
     
         3 . The composition of  claim 1  wherein the film-forming polymer comprises an acrylic copolymer.  
     
     
         4 . The composition of  claim 1  wherein the compound of formula (I) comprises pentadecalactone.  
     
     
         5 . The composition of  claim 1  which comprises: 
 from about 0.5 to about 35 percent compound of formula (I);  
 from about 0.5 to about 40 percent film-forming polymer; and  
 from about 10 to about 70 percent volatile solvent.  
 
     
     
         6 . The composition of  claim 5  wherein the compound of formula (I) comprises pentadecalactone.