In the late 1970s, Niwano et al found that introduction of an imidazole moiety onto a ketene dithioacetal structure increased its antifungal activity manifold. Lanoconazole, the compound thus generated, has been shown to have activity against a variety of fungi, including yeast, dermatophytes, and dematiaceous fungi, and has signifcant fungicidal activity against Trichophyton spp. Lanoconazole is a racemic mixture, and further studies revealed that its antifungal activity is attributed to the R-enantiomer, and the latter has at least two-fold more potent antifungal activity when compared with the racemic compound. The drug has been available for clinical use in Japan since 1994 and once-daily application to affected areas is recommended. In addition to its antifungal effect, animal data suggest that application of lanoconazole 0.5 or 1% cream is associated with accelerated wound healing