Drug Database
SP

spironolactone (Spiroderm)

✓ Approved

Merck KGaA · NR3C2 · Small Molecule

What is spironolactone?

spironolactone is a small molecule developed by Merck KGaA. It is approved for therapeutic indications via topical.

Drug Profile

Brand NamesSpiroderm
CompanyMerck KGaA
Drug ClassSmall Molecule
Molecular TargetNR3C2, SCNN1A
RouteTopical
StatusApproved
Sources: ClinicalTrials.gov, Merck KGaA

Mechanism of Action

Molecular Targets

spironolactone acts on 2 molecular targets:

NR3C2nuclear receptor subfamily 3 group C member 2 (NR3C2VIT, MR)
SCNN1Asodium channel epithelial 1 subunit alpha (SCNEA, BESC2)
Want deeper analysis?Noah AI can explain complex mechanisms and compare to similar drugs.

Therapeutic Indications

spironolactone is developed for 1 unique indication across 1 therapeutic area.

Therapeutic AreaConditionPhase
Skin and subcutaneous tissue disordersAcne✓ Approved

Related Research Articles

PubMedIranian journal of pharmaceutical research : IJPR2026-09-20

Protective Effect of Soy Lecithin Liposomes in Oxazolone-Induced Dermatitis in a Mouse Model: A Comparative Evaluation.

Partoazar Alireza A, Alemi Maryam M, Mirzaee Saffari Partow P, Eskandary Nasab Maryam M et al.

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic inflammatory skin disorder characterized by intense itching, severe erosion, and rashes on the skin surface. Prolonged AD may cause hemorrhage and secondary infections due to scratching. This study aimed to investigate the anti-AD effects of soy lecithin (SL) applied topically to oxazolone (OX)-treated skin in a mouse model. The effects of SL and hydrocortisone (HC), used as the standard drug, on behavioral responses such as scratching and grooming were evaluated during a 35-day trial. Histopathology and immunohistochemistry (IHC) for the cytokines TNFα and IL8 were also evaluated in the skin of the treated mice. Topical administration of SL showed efficacy comparable to that of HC and significantly alleviated itching and grooming behaviors in eczematous animals. Topical SL also improved symptoms, including skin erythema, scarring, and edema, as well as histopathological parameters in AD mice. IHC analysis indicated that SL administration effectively reduced tissue levels of the inflammatory cytokines TNFα and IL8 in AD mice. Topical SL significantly improved AD severity in an OX-induced mouse model of AD. These results support further preclinical studies before clinical investigations in humans are undertaken.

PMID 42763650
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PubMedCureus2026-09-20

Vulvovaginal Candidiasis in Pregnancy: Species Distribution and Antifungal Resistance Patterns to Commonly Used Topical Azoles at a Tertiary Care Center in Central India.

Bhadade Arati A AA, Karuna Tadepalli T, Singh Bharti B, Ramani Anirban A et al.

Vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) is a common fungal infection during pregnancy. Topical azoles, including clotrimazole and miconazole, are recommended as first-line therapy; however, data on the distribution of Candida species and their in vitro susceptibility to these agents remain limited. This study aimed to determine the species distribution of Candida causing VVC in pregnant women and evaluate the in vitro activity of clotrimazole and miconazole. This six-month observational cross-sectional study was conducted at a tertiary care center in Central India. High vaginal swabs were collected from 108 symptomatic pregnant women and examined by direct microscopy and culture. Candida isolates were identified using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry. Antifungal susceptibility testing for clotrimazole and miconazole was performed using the Etest method. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values were analyzed descriptively because clinical breakpoints (CBPs) and epidemiological cutoff values (ECVs) for these topical azoles were unavailable. Descriptive statistics included frequencies, percentages, mean, median, mode, and MIC ranges. Candida species were isolated from 45 of 108 pregnant women (41.67%). Candida albicans was the predominant isolate (36/45, 80.0%), followed by Nakaseomyces glabrata (4/45, 8.89%), Candida tropicalis (2/45, 4.44%), Pichia kudriavzevii (1/45, 2.22%), Candida parapsilosis (1/45, 2.22%), and Candida lusitaniae (1/45, 2.22%). Clotrimazole demonstrated lower MIC values than miconazole. Higher MIC values (>32 µg/mL), indicating reduced in vitro activity, were observed in nine (25.0%) Candida albicans isolates with miconazole, compared with one (2.78%) with clotrimazole. Candida albicans remained the predominant cause of VVC among pregnant women. Clotrimazole demonstrated lower MIC values than miconazole in this study, indicating greater in vitro activity based on the observed MIC distribution. Continued surveillance of antifungal susceptibility patterns and the establishment of validated CBPs for topical azoles against Candida species are essential for improving understanding of emerging antifungal resistance and supporting evidence-based management of VVC.

PMID 42763638
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PubMedCase reports in ophthalmological medicine2026-09-20

Netarsudil-Induced Honeycomb Keratopathy in an Eye With Iridocorneal Endothelial Syndrome.

Ferguson Alina N AN, Bojikian Karine Duarte KD, Nguyen Minh T MT

To describe a case of netarsudil-associated honeycomb keratopathy in a patient with iridocorneal endothelial (ICE) syndrome. A 43-year-old male with a history of Cogan-Reese variant ICE syndrome presented with ocular irritation, foreign body sensation, blurred vision, photosensitivity, and discharge in the right eye 2 weeks after initiating topical netarsudil 0.02% for secondary angle-closure glaucoma. Slit lamp exam and anterior segment optical coherence tomography demonstrated diffuse reticular epithelial cysts, consistent with netarsudil-induced honeycomb keratopathy. Three weeks after netarsudil cessation, slit lamp exam showed complete resolution of corneal edema. Endothelial cell dysfunction in ICE syndrome may be a risk factor for patients to develop reversible netarsudil-induced honeycomb keratopathy. Ophthalmologists should exercise caution when prescribing netarsudil for glaucoma management in patients with pre-existing corneal pathologies, including those with ICE syndrome.

PMID 42763536
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PubMedIranian journal of pharmaceutical research : IJPR2026-09-20

The Effectiveness of a Topical Turmeric-Based Formulation on Contact Dermatitis: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Controlled Trial.

Khatami Shabnam S, Sadati Lamardi Seyede Nargess SN, Najafi-Vosough Roya R, Mizani Azadeh A et al.

Contact dermatitis (CD) affects approximately 15% of adults worldwide, and commonly used treatments are often associated with adverse effects. Traditional medicine sources, including Persian medicine, offer promising alternatives. Based on the principles of Persian medicine, the formulation investigated in this study combines Curcuma longa L., Lawsonia inermis L., and Aristolochia rotunda L. (CLA) to achieve a synergistic therapeutic effect. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of a 4-week intervention using CLA cream in patients with mild-to-moderate CD. A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was conducted in 64 participants who were assigned to apply either CLA cream or the base cream. Assessments included demographic characteristics, the Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI), the Three-Item Severity Score (TIS), and skin parameters, including transepidermal water loss (TEWL), stratum corneum hydration, skin pH, and sebum production. Statistical analyses were performed using repeated-measures analysis of variance with least significant difference post hoc tests, Friedman tests, and Wilcoxon tests. The CLA group showed significantly greater decreases in TEWL and TIS scores than the control group (P = 0.004 and P = 0.003, respectively). In the within-group analysis, sebum production increased significantly after the intervention in the CLA group (P = 0.006). Stratum corneum hydration improved significantly in both groups. A 4-week course of CLA cream appears to ameliorate inflammatory symptoms in patients with mild-to-moderate contact dermatitis. Further large-scale, longer-duration trials are warranted to establish the clinical utility of CLA cream as a complementary therapeutic option.

PMID 42763670
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PubMedCase reports in oncology2026-09-20

Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine for Severe Tislelizumab-Induced Rash: A Case Report.

Wang Boya B, Zhang Yan Y, Wu Jianglin J, Yi Sicheng S et al.

Programmed death receptor 1 inhibitors are widely used tumor immunotherapy agents, yet they frequently trigger immune-related adverse events (irAEs), among which severe cutaneous toxicities are life-threatening and often interrupt anti-tumor treatment. Conventional Western medicine relying on glucocorticoids carries notable side effects, while integrated traditional Chinese medicine and Western medicine (TCM-WM) offers a promising alternative therapeutic strategy. This work aims to explore the clinical efficacy and safety of combined TCM-WM intervention for severe tislelizumab-induced cutaneous irAEs, elaborate traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) syndrome differentiation logic, and accumulate clinical evidence for managing such severe skin adverse reactions. A 71-year-old male patient with right lung squamous cell carcinoma complicated by supraclavicular lymph node metastasis developed grade 3 severe cutaneous irAE after tislelizumab immunotherapy, diagnosed with TCM syndrome of intermingled damp-heat, stasis, and toxin. Comprehensive Western medicine treatment (glucocorticoids, antihistamines, topical anti-inflammatory ointments, and analgesics) combined with individualized oral modified TCM granules, external herbal washing, and characteristic TCM therapies was implemented. After 12 days of inpatient treatment and 3 months of continuous follow-up, the patient's severe rash, skin pain, and pruritus were fully resolved without recurrence. The duration of intravenous glucocorticoid administration was shortened to only 7 days followed by oral tapering, and no significant adverse reactions occurred during the whole treatment course. Integrated TCM-WM demonstrates synergistic efficacy in the treatment of severe tislelizumab-induced cutaneous irAEs by regulating immune balance and eliminating pathogenic factors. It provides a valuable therapeutic option for such patients and warrants further validation in larger sample studies.

PMID 42763780
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PubMedAnesthesiology and pain medicine2026-09-20

Radiofrequency Ablation for Refractory Palmar and Plantar Hyperhidrosis: A Case Report.

Hemati Karim K, Movassaghi Shima S, Hemati Parnian P

Palmar and plantar hyperhidrosis (PH) is characterized by sweat production that far exceeds thermoregulatory needs and often has substantial effects on daily functioning, social interaction, and mental health. The condition results from sympathetically mediated overstimulation of the eccrine glands, which are innervated by unmyelinated cholinergic C-type fibers. Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) offers a minimally invasive approach to symptom control in refractory PH through heat-mediated disruption of these sympathetic fibers. Reports describing staged upper- and lower-limb RFA for combined palmar and plantar disease in a single patient remain uncommon; this is the primary reason for presenting this case. A 21-year-old man (American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status I) presented with a 10-year history of progressive palmar and plantar hyperhidrosis that had not shown durable responses to conservative or prior interventional treatment. He used topical aluminum chloride for 2 months without meaningful benefit and subsequently underwent 2 sessions of palmar botulinum toxin injections 5 months apart, which reduced palmar sweating by an estimated 50 - 60% for approximately 2 months per session; the lower limbs were not treated. Eighteen months before the current admission, he underwent RFA of the right thoracic sympathetic chain at another center. This produced approximately 80% improvement in palmar sweating, although sweating persisted along the ulnar nerve distribution; the benefit lasted only approximately 4 months, after which symptoms recurred to baseline. During the present admission, staged RFA was performed bilaterally at L3, with different lower-limb protocols selected in advance based on the prior treatment response and the greater severity of plantar sweating on the left. Seven days later, bilateral RFA was performed at T3. At the 2-week, 1-month, and 7-month follow-up visits, the patient reported no compensatory sweating or change in cutaneous sensation. By his own assessment, overall sweating of the palms and soles was reduced by approximately 90% from baseline, with a satisfaction score of 9/10 and subjectively improved quality of life. Staged RFA targeting both the thoracic and lumbar sympathetic chains appears to be a reasonably safe palliative option for patients with refractory combined palmar and plantar hyperhidrosis, with a more favorable complication profile than surgical sympathectomy. This case is considered reportable because it involves combined, staged treatment of both the upper and lower limbs in a single patient.

PMID 42763681
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