Abametapir

Abametapir is a novel pediculicidal metalloproteinase inhibitor used to treat infestations of head lice.[L15153] The life cycle of head lice (_Pediculus capitis_) is approximately 30 days, seven to twelve of which are spent as eggs laid on hair shafts near the scalp.[A216183] Topical pediculicides generally lack adequate ovicidal activity,[A216183] including standard-of-care treatments such as [permethrin], and many require a second administration 7-10 days following the first to kill newly hatched lice that resisted the initial treatment. The necessity for follow-up treatment may lead to challenges with patient adherence, and resistance to agents like permethrin and [pyrethrins]/[piperonyl butoxide] may be significant in some areas.[A216228] Investigations into novel ovicidal treatments revealed that several metalloproteinase enzymes were critical to the egg hatching and survival of head lice, and these enzymes were therefore identified as a potential therapeutic target.[A216178] Abemetapir is an inhibitor of these metalloproteinase enzymes, and the first topical pediculicide to take advantage of this novel target. The improved ovicidal activity (90-100% _in vitro_) of abemetapir allows for a single administration, in contrast to many other topical treatments, and its novel and relatively non-specific mechanism may help to curb the development of resistance to this agent.[A216178] Abametapir was first approved for use in the United States under the brand name Xeglyze on July 27, 2020.[L15163]