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Butenafine Hydrochloride

Other antifungals for topical use · given by topical · on the market since 2001

5
Leads
51.5M
People
1
Makers
10
How abandoned
01

What it's made of

Each functional group on the molecule does a specific, predictable job.

SETS WHERE IT GOES

Basic amine

What it does. Neutral enough to slip through membranes, then becomes charged inside the acidic compartments of the cell and gets trapped there. Concentrations inside cells can reach many times the blood level.

What it opens up. Diseases of the cell's internal recycling compartments, and a common reason a drug accumulates in lung, liver, and eye tissue far beyond what the blood level suggests.

02

Where it can get to

Predicted from molecular weight, lipophilicity, polar surface area and hydrogen-bond donor count. A drug can only act where it distributes, so this constrains which conditions are addressable before any biology is considered. derived

Easily
Systemic circulation
Absorbed from the gut and distributed in plasma.
Easily
Central nervous system
Crosses the blood–brain barrier.
No
Intestinal lumen only
Poorly absorbed. Acts locally in the gut with minimal systemic exposure.
Partly
Skin
Crosses the stratum corneum. Viable as a topical.
Barely
Urinary tract
Cleared unchanged in urine. Local concentration exceeds plasma.
03

What it binds — and whether we can reach it · 2 of 6 reachable

Binding affinity is only meaningful against the plasma concentration reached at the approved dose. A target requiring higher concentrations cannot be engaged in a patient, whatever the in vitro potency. Most repurposing hypotheses fail at this step, and it is rarely checked before a trial is proposed. measured

Values are pAct — the negative logarithm of the molar concentration at which the drug half-occupies the target. Each whole step is a tenfold difference in potency: 9.0 = 1 nanomolar, 6.0 = 1 micromolar, 5.0 = 10 micromolar. Oral drugs typically reach 0.1–10 micromolar in plasma, so roughly 6.0 is the threshold below which a target cannot be reached at a tolerated dose. Figures come from DrugCentral’s curated binding data.
CYP2D6
Enzyme ·
6.52
Just reachable
SLC6A4
Transporter ·
6.12
Just reachable
ADRA2A
GPCR ·
5.86
Out of reach
SIGMAR1
Membrane rece ·
5.78
Out of reach
SLC6A2
Transporter ·
5.41
Out of reach
ACHE
Enzyme ·
5.16
Out of reach

This molecule builds up inside cells far above blood levels. Local concentration therefore exceeds plasma, so targets that look unreachable on a plasma reading may still be engaged. assumed

04

New uses, and who is already trying them

One card per candidate indication: the reasoning link by link, the evidence tier that governs how strongly it can be stated, and any registered trials.

5 of the 109 conditions linked to this drug’s targets have been checked against trial records so far. The rest are not ruled out — they are unchecked.

Not yet used for these — 5

autosomal recessive distal spinal muscular atrophy 2

Wide open

It acts on a target linked to this disease; untested, and the direction of effect is unverified.

The condition
Distal hereditary motor neuropathy, Jerash type is a rare, genetic neuromuscular disease characterized by progressive, symmetrical, moderate to severe, distal muscle weakness and atrophy, without sensory involvement, first affecting the lower limbs (towards the end of the first decade) and then involving (within two years) the upper extremities. Patients typically develop foot drop, pes varus, hammer toes and claw hands. Pyramidal tract signs (e.g. brisk knee reflexes, positive Babinski sign, absent ankle reflexes)
SIGMAR1 · sigma non-opioid intracellular receptor 1
Functions in lipid transport from the endoplasmic reticulum and is involved in a wide array of cellular functions probably through regulation of the biogenesis of lipid microdomains at the plasma membrane. Involved in the regulation of different receptors it plays a role in BDNF signaling and EGF signaling. Also regulates ion channels like the potassium channel and could modulate neurotransmitter release. Plays a role in calcium signaling through modulation together with ANK2 of the ITP3R-dependent calcium efflux a
Nobody has tried this
No registered trial of this drug in this condition.
What would kill it. A null trial, or pharmacokinetic data showing the drug does not reach SIGMAR1 in the relevant tissue at tolerated doses.

obsessive-compulsive disorder

Wide open

It acts on a target linked to this disease; untested, and the direction of effect is unverified.

The condition
A disorder characterized by the presence of persistent and recurrent irrational thoughts (obsessions), resulting in marked anxiety and repetitive excessive behaviors (compulsions) as a way to try to decrease that anxiety.
SLC6A4 · solute carrier family 6 member 4
Serotonin transporter that cotransports serotonin with one Na(+) ion in exchange for one K(+) ion and possibly one proton in an overall electroneutral transport cycle. Transports serotonin across the plasma membrane from the extracellular compartment to the cytosol thus limiting serotonin intercellular signaling (PubMed:10407194, PubMed:12869649, PubMed:21730057, PubMed:27049939, PubMed:27756841, PubMed:34851672). Essential for serotonin homeostasis in the central nervous system. In the developing somatosensory cor
Nobody has tried this
No registered trial of this drug in this condition.
What would kill it. A null trial, or pharmacokinetic data showing the drug does not reach SLC6A4 in the relevant tissue at tolerated doses.

juvenile amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

Wide open

It acts on a target linked to this disease; untested, and the direction of effect is unverified.

The condition
Juvenile amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (JALS) is a very rare severe motor neuron disease characterized by progressive upper and lower motor neuron degeneration causing facial spasticity, dysarthria, and gait disorders with onset before 25 years of age.
SIGMAR1 · sigma non-opioid intracellular receptor 1
Functions in lipid transport from the endoplasmic reticulum and is involved in a wide array of cellular functions probably through regulation of the biogenesis of lipid microdomains at the plasma membrane. Involved in the regulation of different receptors it plays a role in BDNF signaling and EGF signaling. Also regulates ion channels like the potassium channel and could modulate neurotransmitter release. Plays a role in calcium signaling through modulation together with ANK2 of the ITP3R-dependent calcium efflux a
Nobody has tried this
No registered trial of this drug in this condition.
What would kill it. A null trial, or pharmacokinetic data showing the drug does not reach SIGMAR1 in the relevant tissue at tolerated doses.

major depressive disorder

Wide open

It acts on a target linked to this disease; untested, and the direction of effect is unverified.

The condition
An episode of depression lasting two or more weeks without an intervening episode of mania.
SLC6A4 · solute carrier family 6 member 4
Serotonin transporter that cotransports serotonin with one Na(+) ion in exchange for one K(+) ion and possibly one proton in an overall electroneutral transport cycle. Transports serotonin across the plasma membrane from the extracellular compartment to the cytosol thus limiting serotonin intercellular signaling (PubMed:10407194, PubMed:12869649, PubMed:21730057, PubMed:27049939, PubMed:27756841, PubMed:34851672). Essential for serotonin homeostasis in the central nervous system. In the developing somatosensory cor
Nobody has tried this
No registered trial of this drug in this condition.
What would kill it. A null trial, or pharmacokinetic data showing the drug does not reach SLC6A4 in the relevant tissue at tolerated doses.

Alzheimer disease

Wide open

It acts on a target linked to this disease; untested, and the direction of effect is unverified.

The condition
A progressive, neurodegenerative disease characterized by loss of function and death of nerve cells in several areas of the brain leading to loss of cognitive function such as memory and language.
ACHE · acetylcholinesterase (Yt blood group)
Hydrolyzes rapidly the acetylcholine neurotransmitter released into the synaptic cleft allowing to terminate the signal transduction at the neuromuscular junction. Role in neuronal apoptosis. {ECO:0000269|PubMed:11985878, ECO:0000269|PubMed:1517212, ECO:0000269|PubMed:1748670, ECO:0000269|PubMed:2714437}.
Nobody has tried this
No registered trial of this drug in this condition.
What would kill it. A null trial, or pharmacokinetic data showing the drug does not reach ACHE in the relevant tissue at tolerated doses.
05

Why nobody will fund it

Only one company makes this. With that many manufacturers the price has fallen to production cost. A company funding a trial could not recover it — competitors could market the same molecule for the new indication immediately, without contributing.

How abandoned it is10 / 100
0 to 100, calculated from manufacturer count, remaining patent or exclusivity, and whether any reformulation route to exclusivity is still open. 100 means no route to commercial return exists. The weights behind it are unsourced.
THE ONE WAY A COMPANY COULD STILL OWN IT
oralinjectableinhaledmodified-release

A new route or dosage form qualifies for a 505(b)(2) application, which carries three years of exclusivity for that formulation. It is the only remaining route to exclusivity on a generic molecule.

06

What it would cost to find out

Derived, not quoted. Events needed is 4(zα+zβ)²/ln(HR)²; enrolment is that divided by the event rate and follow-up. The 1/ln(HR)² term dominates: halving the detectable effect size roughly quadruples enrolment. derived

0.75
Lower = bigger effect = smaller trial
8.0%
2 yr
$32K
Unsourced placeholder
379
Events needed
3K
Patients
$93M
Trial cost
assumed
$5.15
Per person reached
assumed

Cost per person reached is the relevant metric for a non-commercial funder, since there is no revenue to set against the outlay.

07

Ask for ideas nobody has listed

Reasons from the functional groups and distribution above, excluding conditions already listed. Output is hypotheses for falsification, not findings. Not medical advice.

08

Who might pay for the trial

Trials of off-patent drugs are rarely funded by venture capital or pharma. They are paid for by government grants and disease foundations. Here is who has funded work on this molecule before, what federal mechanisms are open now, and which foundations fund trials in the disease areas it touches. measured

Federal grants that name this medicine

No federally funded project currently mentions this drug by name. That means work is either funded privately or has not yet been proposed to federal agencies.

Open federal programmes that would fund this work

Open notices with an explicit mandate to fund work on approved or off-patent molecules.

RFA-CA-25-033National Institutes of HealthForecast — not open yet
Glioblastoma Therapeutics Network (GTN; U19 Clinical Trial Required)
RFA-FD-25-020Food and Drug Administrationcloses 05/16/2028
Reissue of RFA-FD-23-001- Clinical Studies of Orphan Products Addressing Unmet
FOR-FD-25-020Food and Drug AdministrationForecast — not open yet
Clinical Studies of Orphan Products Addressing Unmet Needs of Rare Diseases (R
FOR-FD-25-001Food and Drug AdministrationForecast — not open yet
Clinical Trials Addressing Unmet Needs of Rare Neurodegenerative Diseases (R01
RFA-TR-25-002National Institutes of Healthcloses 07/02/2027
Preclinical Proof of Concept Studies for Rare Diseases (R21 Clinical Trial Not
PAR-25-374National Institutes of Healthcloses 05/07/2028
Translational Bioinformatics and Experimental Approaches to Advance Drug Repos
HT942526PRCRPCTADefense Health Agency Contracting Activity -closes 10/05/2026
DoW Peer Reviewed Cancer, Clinical Trial Award
PAR-26-049National Institutes of HealthForecast — not open yet
Establishing Pediatric CNS Pharmacodynamic Measures as Tools to Enable Psychia
Showing 8 of 990 currently open under this category on Grants.gov, matched to the disease areas this drug touches. derived Browse all 990 on Grants.gov ↗
Funders beyond the federal system

Grants.gov lists US federal money. Many off-patent drug trials are supported by disease foundations and nonprofits. These are matched to the body systems this drug touches. assumed

Matched by disease area, not by molecule — a foundation appearing here funds work in a field this drug touches.
09

Who manufactures it

Companies holding an approved abbreviated application for this molecule in the United States, from the FDA Orange Book. Supply already exists at scale, so a trial would not need a manufacturing programme — but any of these could also be a partner, or an objector.

Sun Pharma Canada Inc
1
Manufacturers
companies with their own approval
1
Approved products
distinct strengths and forms
1
Routes
topical
2001
Oldest product still sold
approval year of the earliest product still on the market
ALSO SOLD AS
LOTRIMIN ULTRA

Nothing on this page is medical advice. Candidate uses are unproven hypotheses derived from public data; established uses are listed for verification only. Figures carry their provenance inline — anything marked assumed or derived is not a measurement.

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