Naftifine is an antifungal agent used to treat infections of the Tinea, Trichophyton, and Epidermophyton species. It is used as a topical treatment of tinea pedis, tinea cruris, and tinea corporis caused by the organisms Trichophyton rubrum, Trichophyton mentagrophytes, Trichophyton tonsurans and Epidermophyton floccosum. Naftifine is a synthetic, broad spectrum, antifungal agent and allylamine derivative. Naftifine has been shown to exhibit fungicidal activity in vitro against a broad spectrum of organisms including Trichophyton rubrum, Trichophyton mentagrophytes, Trichophyton tonsurans, Epidermophyton floccosum, and Microsporum canis, Microsporum audouini, and Microsporum gypseum; and fungistatic activity against Candida species including Candida albicans. However it is only used to treat the organisms listed in the indications. Although the exact mechanism of action against fungi is not known, naftifine appears to interfere with sterol biosynthesis by inhibiting the enzyme squalene 2,3-epoxidase, also known as, squalene monooxygenase. Squalene monooxygenase catalyzes the synthesis of (S)-2,3-epoxysqualene from squalene. Since it is inhibited, it cannot continue on to synthesize lanosterol which is essential in the synthesis of ergosterol. Without ergosterol in the cell membrane, the cell membrane sees increased permeability which allows intracellular components to leak out of the cell. Ergosterol is also essential in cell membrane integrity so without that, eventually the cell collapses and dies.. The fungal cell also cannot synthesize new cell membranes for new fungus cells if there is no ergosterol. The inhibition of squalene monooxygenase also causes a buildup of squalene which is toxic to the fungal cell.

Naftifine Pathway References