Luliconazole (trade names Luzu, Lulicon) is an imidazole antifungal drug. As a 1% topical cream, It is indicated for the treatment of athlete's foot, jock itch, and ringworm caused by dermatophytes such as Trichophyton rubrum, Microsporum gypseum and Epidermophyton floccosum. Luliconazole is an antifungal that belongs to the azole class. Although the exact mechanism of action against dermatophytes is unknown, luliconazole appears to inhibit ergosterol synthesis by inhibiting the enzyme lanosterol demethylase. Inhibition of this enzyme’s activity by azoles results in decreased amounts of ergosterol, a constituent of fungal cell membranes, and a corresponding accumulation of lanosterol. Pharmacokinetic and safety results from phase 1 studies in patients with onychomycosis have demonstrated high concentrations of luliconazole within the nail plates of the great toe and have shown that this agent is well tolerated when administered as a 10% solution.

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