Ciclopirox (HOE296b) exerts its action by binding to and chelating trivalent cations, such as Fe3+ and Al3+, thereby inhibiting the availability of essential co-factors for enzymes. Ciclopirox is a synthetic, broad-spectrum antifungal agent with additional antibacterial and anti-inflammatory activities. This may lead to a loss of activity of enzymes that are essential for cellular metabolism, the organization of cell wall structure and other crucial cell functions. In addition, ciclopirox exerts its anti-inflammatory activity by inhibiting 5-lipoxygenase and cyclooxygenase (COX).
