If eflornithine is prescribed to a patient with Human African trypanosomiasis caused by a trypanosome that contains a mutated or ineffective TbAAT6 gene, then the medication will be ineffective against the disease. Resistance to eflornithine has increased the use of melarsoprol despite its toxicity, which has been linked to the deaths of 5% of recipient HAT patients. Excess facial hair in women
The topical cream is indicated for treatment of facial hirsutism in women. It is the only topical prescription treatment that slows the growth of facial hair. It is applied in a thin layer twice daily, a minimum of eight hours between applications. In clinical studies with Vaniqa, 81% percent of women showed clinical improvement after twelve months of treatment. Positive results were seen after eight weeks. However, discontinuation of the cream caused regrowth of hair back to baseline levels within 8 weeks.Vaniqa treatment significantly reduces the psychological burden of facial hirsutism. Chemo preventative therapy
It has been noted that ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) exhibits high activity in tumor cells, promoting cell growth and division, while absence of ODC activity leads to depletion of putrescine, causing impairment of RNA and DNA synthesis. Typically, drugs that inhibit cell growth are considered candidates for cancer therapy, so eflornithine was naturally believed to have potential utility as an anti-cancer agent. By inhibiting ODC, eflornithine inhibits cell growth and division of both cancerous and noncancerous cells. However, several clinical trials demonstrated minor results.
Market
Vaniqa, granted marketing approval by the US FDA, as well as by the European Commission among others, is currently the only topical prescription treatment that slows the growth of facial hair. Besides being a non-mechanical and non-cosmetic treatment, it is the only non-hormonal and non-systemic prescription option available for women with facial hirsutism. Vaniqa is marketed by Almirall in Europe, SkinMedica in the US, Triton in Canada, Medison in Israel, and Menarini in Australia.Ornidyl, the injectable form of eflornithine hydrochloride, is licensed by Sanofi-Aventis, but is currently discontinued in the US. In other animals
Eflornithine is effective in mice. Bacchi et al. 1980 found the drug to be curative in T. b. brucei infection of mouse and it is generally without toxicity. Klug et al. 2016 are of the opinion that this demonstrates good promise for oral treatment. However although Jansson et al. 2008 also effectively treated mice with it they found the pharmacokinetics of oral administration in rats very negative. Brun et al. 2010 are of the opinion that Janssons results have killed the prospects for oral treatment. References
External links
History of Drug Development for African Sleeping Sickness