You are on page 1of 7

Drug Discovery Today  Volume 00, Number 00  October 2017 REVIEWS

Reviews  POST SCREEN


Phenytoin repositioned in wound
healing: clinical experience spanning
60 years
Jan M. Keppel Hesselink
Q1
University of Witten/Herdecke, Germany

Drug repositioning is hot, and much development time and money can be spared if one selects an old
drug and explores the efficacy and safety in a new indication. Phenytoin is studied and repositioned in
many disorders after the initial indication epilepsy (from 1937). Its repositioning in depression was put
in the spotlight by the Wall Street icon Jack Dreyfus, already in the 1970s. Innovations in the field of
phenytoin still appear to be possible for a number of indications such as wound healing, bipolar disorder
and aggression, and via a topical formulation for neuropathic pain. We will discuss wound healing and
identified a number of critical issues related to its repositioning in this indication.

Introduction 2010, the number of papers containing these two keywords has
Drug repositioning is not a recent chapter in drug development, risen each year, from 50 in 2010, to 100, 125, 242, 323, and 448 in
but it has been recognized only recently as an important chance in each subsequent year, up to 503 in 2016. To date however, no
drug research and development to shorten the development time, studies have been carried out in analysing drug repurposing in a
as well as sparing much research and development effort and systematic way based on previous literature and clinical studies
money. Secondly, it has been identified as a new way of finding published in the past, that focus on one ‘new’ indication for an old
treatments for complex disorders such as orphan diseases; and drug.
thirdly, it is seen as a method leading to therapeutic innova- Not many readers know that certain scaffolds related to old
tiveness. Lastly, it is seen by some as fulfilling the need for molecules paved the way towards drug repurposing. The dihydro-
regulation of pharmacy compounding and off-label use. Interest- pyrimidines for instance, synthesized first by Bignelli in 1891, were
ingly, the Chairman of the Dutch Medicines Evaluation Board, rediscovered during the 1970s–1990s as new leads for a number of
Bert Leufkens, pointed out in 2016: ‘Every new drug is a potential indications, from hypertension to anxiety and optic nerve
old drug. Together we should aim to use drugs to their full dysfunction [2,3]. The roots of drug repurposing therefore can
potential,’ and he subsequently advised to ‘look for a new drug be identified in organic chemistry, and such old molecules and
development paradigm with incentives and a satisfactory business scaffolds should not be forgotten as untapped sources for new
case for drug repositioning in which quality, efficacy and safety are drugs.
supported by adequate and robust data and/or justification [1].’ Key elements of the theory of drug repositioning can be identi-
Importantly, he also stipulated that lack of data as such is not fied in literature between the 1980s and the beginning of our
always the issue, but justification by the applicant why this does millennium. In the early 80s, a new mechanism of action for
Q2 not hamper the B/R (the benefit/risk ratio) is critical. tetracyclines was discovered, based on non-antimicrobial proper-
ties of the molecules; the unexpected ability of this group of drugs
Drug repurposing wins in popularity to inhibit the breakdown of connective tissue and bone [4]. The
The topic ‘drug repurposing’ is a popular one. PubMed contains authors of a review in this field explicitly used the word
more than 2000 articles where these two terms are used, and since ‘unexpected’, and highlighted ‘the new therapeutic implications
for an old family of drugs’. In 1999, new uses for old drugs
were discussed for HIV, and old drugs such as hydroxyurea and
Corresponding author: Keppel Hesselink, J.M. (jan@neuropathie.nu)

1359-6446/ã 2017 Published by Elsevier Ltd.


https://doi.org/10.1016/j.drudis.2017.09.020 www.drugdiscoverytoday.com 1
Please cite this article in press as: Keppel, J.M. Phenytoin repositioned in wound healing: clinical experience spanning 60 years, Drug Discov Today (2017), https://doi.org/10.1016/j.
drudis.2017.09.020
DRUDIS 2095 1–7

REVIEWS Drug Discovery Today  Volume 00, Number 00  October 2017

GLOSSARY crossed-over during the research phase from stroke to neuropathic


pain and epilepsy [9].
Cross-over drug Any drug developed and marketed for one
Drugs evaluated in the clinic can also become ‘cross-over’ drugs,
indication, and subsequently repurposed for a new
indication. if the initial proof of principle studies are negative or if a more
Drug repositioning The process of developing a drug in a promising new indication is discovered. For instance, ipsapirone, a
new indication, not directly related to the initial indication of 5-HT1a ligand, was initially developed in the field of anxiety and
the drug. Synonyms are ‘drug reprofiling’, ‘drug redirecting’ depression and during phase III it was subsequently repositioned
and ‘drug rediscovery’. in the field of ischemic stroke [10,11]. However, the drug was never
Drug repurposing The process of developing a drug in a
Reviews  POST SCREEN

approved for any indication due to development decisions of the


new indication, not directly related to the initial marketing
patent holder (Bayer AG).
authorized indication of the drug.
Marketing authorization holder (MAH) The company who Currently, the work on bimoclomol, an HSP co-inducer, is
submitted the registration dossier, the Marketing another example of early repositioning during the development
Authorization Application (MAA). phase in a new field of indications (orphan disorders such as
Niemann-Pick disease and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis); after
the first development, the focus was on treating diabetic compli-
cations such as polyneuropathy and organ damage [12].
thalidomide were presented as examples [5]. The authors pointed There are many examples of repositioning after a drug has found
out that these old drugs offered a considerable advantage as they its place in the market, also defined as repurposing. For instance,
were already widely used in various indications and therefore doxepin, a classic tricyclic antidepressant was ‘repurposed’ in the
could be rapidly tested for use in a new indication such as HIV. formulation of a cream for the treatment of itching. The author is
The take-home lesson was that such ‘old good’ drugs ‘should be currently working on the repurposing of phenytoin as a topical
kept in mind as mature and respectable partners of the newest analgesic [13].
products of biotechnology and gene therapy areas [5 p. 961].’ In The fields of drug repositioning and drug repurposing are new
an editorial in ‘Neurology’, the repositioning of the old antiviral and popular areas of drug research and development interest, both
drug amantadine as a Parkinson’s drug was discussed and the of which have emerged in the last decade or so. The fields are still
editors identified one of the key hurdles obstructing drug repo- in development and given the context we described above, we
sitioning [6]. They pointed out that it would be wise to further expect these areas of interest to develop and mature further during
study agents with unexplained mechanisms, but recognized that this decade. The aim of our paper is to add some new perspectives
such exploration would not be supported by pharmaceutical to the theoretical body of knowledge of this field. We will focus on
companies due to the economic priority for new compounds. an old drug which has already been repurposed many times for a
He argued in favor of developing an infrastructure for funding number of indications that are different to the indications the drug
research on older chemicals after they lose patent protection. was originally registered for. This drug is phenytoin, one that has
Such infrastructure would also be required to pursue additional been used in a clinical setting for 80 years now since its first use as
analysis of their unexpected mechanisms of action. The topic was an anticonvulsant in 1937. CNS drugs in particular are known to
further addressed in one of the early articles from 2000 and the be ‘repurposed’ the most [14–16].
author used celecoxib and introduced it as a new term: a
‘crossover’ drug, a compound that began its clinical use as an Current focus of repositioning and repurposing: two
arthritis drug and was subsequently identified as a potential critical bottlenecks
cancer preventive [7]. There is a growing consensus that drug repurposing is an impor-
Drug repositioning as a topic however was not yet conceptual- tant inroad in finding ‘new’ treatments for disorders that have
ized; this was first done in 2004 by Ashburn and Thor, who been difficult to treat to date, such as orphan disorders or diseases
defined: ‘‘The process of finding new uses outside the scope and syndromes where the current armamentarium is insufficient
of the original medical indication for existing drugs is also to adequately treat the majority of patients, these include neuro-
known as redirecting, repurposing, repositioning, re-tasking and pathic pain, Alzheimer’s disease, retina degeneration and multiple
reprofiling [8].” sclerosis. However, clear economic incentives exist for entering
repurposed or repositioned development for orphan diseases only
Drug repositioning in various phases of drug research [17,18]. In the case of the repositioning of sildenafil in a pediatric
and development indication for the treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension,
‘Old’ molecules can be repositioned in various stages of the R&D an orphan disease illustrates the role of incentives: Revatio, the
process, and years after obtaining a marketing authorization (MA). brand name for sildenafil in this indication but not Viagra which
Compounds discovered long ago, not imbedded in the tradi- contains the same active substance, benefits from 10 years of
tional drug R&D process, can become repositioned as promising marketing exclusivity as an orphan drug. Even the well-known
‘old’ chemical entities, such as the dihydropyrimidines discovered beta blocker propranolol has been developed in an orphan indi-
in 1891, as discussed above. New analogues of such an old scaffold cation by the company Pierre Fabre, and has re-entered the market
of course become New Chemical Entities NCEs. as Hemangiol, in a liquid form, for the indication ‘proliferating
Drugs entering the preclinical pharmacological phase can be infantile haemangioma’, priced at 251 euro for 120 ml.
repositioned from the initial target indication into other fields. An It will be mandatory for the fields of drug repositioning and
example is the selective AMPA receptor antagonist, NS1209, drug repurposing that additional incentives be developed by

2 www.drugdiscoverytoday.com
Please cite this article in press as: Keppel, J.M. Phenytoin repositioned in wound healing: clinical experience spanning 60 years, Drug Discov Today (2017), https://doi.org/10.1016/j.
drudis.2017.09.020
DRUDIS 2095 1–7

Drug Discovery Today  Volume 00, Number 00  October 2017 REVIEWS

governments for non-orphan indications. Otherwise it is clear that autacoid influences in our body striving to a new homeostasis. We
only a specific target profile supports a drug candidate for repur- will not succeed in finding the most optimal treatments for many
posing, and we quote Oprea and Mestres for defining such a diseases if we solely use the molecular biological and chemical
profile: a drug fit for repurposing needs to be ‘an off-patent safe techniques developed for drug repositioning and repurposing.
drug for which a novel target has been identified, with affinity We also need to closely read and evaluate the papers and data
within the maximum recommended therapeutic dose for an generated in the past in order to recognize relevant patterns for
already-approved indication, and linked with strong supporting predicting success for an old drug in a new indication. Important-
evidence to a therapeutically unmet need or rare disease [19]’. The ly, hand in hand with such exploration, we need to evaluate drug

Reviews  POST SCREEN


essence of this target profile is the need to create intellectual and research development shortcomings and limitations of the
property protection. This is where the first bottleneck arises. Drug past, because in most papers often only the polished science is
repurposing has recently been stimulated in universities and by reported, and we need to improve our ‘reading between the lines’,
government bodies. Many lists have appeared on putative indica- for instance to identify patterns of moving targets. As a moving
tions for old drugs. There are even some open databases where target of this type, we have explored the R&D aspects of the
putative indications can be analysed, such as ‘RE:fine Drugs – An sodium channel blocker raxatrigine, a drug first defined as a
Interactive Dashboard of Drug Repurposing Opportunities’, from central acting NaV1.3 blocker, a specific NaV1.7 blocker and
the Ohio State University in the USA. If one enters ‘phenytoin’ in consequently a broad acting sodium channel blocker [25].
the search field, many such indications pop up, a few of which are
outlined here: epistaxis, Behcet’s syndrome, wounds, premenstru- Repurposed phenytoin in clinical trials
al tension syndrome, skin cancer, hypersomnia, chronic hepatitis, In PubMed we could identify 377 papers, based on the combined
dyshidrosis, dysthymia, seborrheic dermatitis, corneal degenera- keyword search ‘phenytoin’ in the title together with the filter
tion, chronic pharyngitis, diverticulosis, male infertility, peri- ‘Clinical Trial’. We screened all these papers for indications and it
odontitis, dysmenorrhea, ptosis [2]. Now the exact procedure by appeared that aggression, impulsivity, depression, bipolar disorder
which this database generates these indications is not entirely and wound healing were the indications most often explored. As
clear, but a number of such indications cannot be found in an example, for this paper, we focus on the most frequently
PubMed. It might be that those indications are just white noise analysed indication: wound healing and related dermatological
of the procedure (‘rubbish in, rubbish out’), but the search might disorders.
also unlock a new putative indication. By mentioning an indica- In Table 1, 12 studies are summarized on phenytoin, following a
tion of this type, all chances of obtaining a use patent are gone. By randomized clinical trial design, and seven more specifically in
mentioning a new indication of this type, prior art is created and wound healing. There are in addition other controlled trials,
no-one will ever patent the indication again. So scientists eager to without randomization, all supportive for phenytoin’s healing
list all putative repurposing indications of old molecules should be properties [26,27].
aware of this phenomenon and are advised to analyse the patent- In total, 12 PubMed indexed studies met the selection criteria
ability of a new indication prior to publication, because to date, an and are included in Table 1.
orphan indication, a patent on formulation or a use patent will For wound healing, more than 700 patients have been included
create an adequate intellectual property platform for developing in all studies, and for aggression/irritability, more than 200
such an indication. Without a clear and secured economic incen- patients. For the rest of the indications, only a few patients have
tive, such development will not take place. For instance, in 2016, been included in studies, and all studies have a pilot nature.
the author identified new possibilities for repurposing phenytoin Furthermore, studies to ascertain the optimal dosage are lacking
in neuropathic pain via a topical cream, and before publishing
these findings created two patents (use and formulation patents)
[21]. TABLE 1
a
A second bottleneck relates to the so-called ‘rational approach Q5 Clinical trials of phenytoin in dermatological disorders
to drug repositioning’ which is widely advocated. This approach Indication Year Design N Refs
focuses on the elucidation of the pathogenic mechanisms of a
Mucositis 2015 RCT, placebo 16 [28]
disease matched with the relevant targeted therapeutic agents
Wound healing 2015 RCT, comparator 60 [29]
[22]. We could demonstrate that this is most probably a gross
overestimation of our insight into both the pathomechanistic 2011 RCT, placebo 65 [30]
roots of diseases, as well as our insight into the mechanisms of 2011 RCT, placebo 104 [31]
action of drugs, based on our analysis of a TRPV1 antagonist of Vitiligo 2011 RCT, placebo 20 [32]
AstraZeneca [23]. Wound healing 2010 Single blind, placebo 100 N/A
Studies in drug development show that mechanisms of action 2007 RCT, placebo 28 [33]
are re-invented every few years for nearly all compounds, and
2004 RCT, placebo 45 [34]
perhaps aspirin and its mechanisms related to the treatment of
2004 RCT, placebo, comparator 172 [35]
colon cancer is one of the most famous examples [24]. The same
2003 RCT, comparator 102 [36]
holds true for our insight into the ‘essence’ of a pathogenic
mechanism related to a certain disorder. Most disorders are 2001 RCT, placebo 57 [37]
based on a network of pathogenic factors, which change continu- Dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa 1992 RCT, placebo, crossover 22 [38]
a
ously over time and in tissue/organ systems, related to the many Wound healing is clearly most explored as a repositioning indication for phenytoin.

www.drugdiscoverytoday.com 3
Please cite this article in press as: Keppel, J.M. Phenytoin repositioned in wound healing: clinical experience spanning 60 years, Drug Discov Today (2017), https://doi.org/10.1016/j.
drudis.2017.09.020
DRUDIS 2095 1–7

REVIEWS Drug Discovery Today  Volume 00, Number 00  October 2017

and the oral dose selected was generally based on the recom- HN C=O HN C=O
mended clinical dose range in epilepsy (300–600 mg/day). Data
regarding plasma levels in many of these studies is lacking, apart O=C O=C
from studies conducted in cases of aggression.
C3H 5N C φ C 3 H 7N C φ
H H
Wound healing: early recognized as a repurpose
indication for phenytoin 1 allyl, 5 phenyl 1 propyl, 5 phenyl
hydantoinate hydantoinate
Wound healing is, apparently, an interesting indication for the
Reviews  POST SCREEN

repurposing of old drugs: pentoxifylline, estrogen, sildenafil,


prostacyclin analogues, diltiazem, and nifedipine all have been
explored in this indication [39].
CH3N C=O HN C=O
Gingiva hyperplasia as a side effect of phenytoin treatment was
already reported in 1938, one year after the introduction of O=C
O=C
phenytoin in the clinic [40]. This side effect, occurring after
chronic use of phenytoin, triggered oral pathologists and wound HN C φ HN C φ
healing experts to explore this phenomenon, initially in a number
φ CH3
of models for wound healing and subsequently in observations
and clinical trials. First mechanistic suggestions given in the 1950s 3 methyl, 5, 5 diphenyl 5 methyl, 5 phenyl
were that the compound might influence the healing of gingival hydantoinate hydantoinate
wounds through enhancing collagenization. In 1957, it was first Drug Discovery Today
observed that phenytoin administered to non-epileptic patients
led to increased rates of healing in experimentally induced gingi- FIGURE 1
val wounds, and its mechanism was thought to occur via increased The first series of phenytoin analogues, tested for wound healing in 1969 as a
connective tissue activity as well as accelerated epithelialization repurposing indication for the phenytoin/hydantoinate scaffold.
[41]. One year later, oral pathologists from the Indiana University
School of Medicine reported the results of a controlled experimen- and the other received a wound dressing with cream only. Inju-
tal study of the effect of phenytoin on the tensile strength of ries treated with phenytoin showed more intense epithelization,
healing wounds has been carried out [42]. They concluded that the leading to a smaller wounded area and shorter healing time [48].
systemic administration of 50 mg phenytoin orally administered No details were given on the formulation and the pH, and the
produced a dramatic increase in the tensile strength of healing rationale for the selection of such a low concentration was
wounds in rats [43]. They believed the mechanism was comparable missing.
to the undesirable side-reaction of gingival hyperplasia in epilep- In a more recent double-blind placebo-controlled study in 65
tics receiving phenytoin. Interestingly, this basic research soon patients, a phenytoin-containing alginate-based hydrogel dressing
led to the testing of a number of phenytoin analogues in wound- was tested, also only in one dose (6 mg⁄cm2 wound phenytoin).
read-out systems (Fig. 1) [44]. Mean wound diameter was between 20–30 cm and the treatment
After this initial period, a steady trickle of publications sup- resulted in a low systemic absorption of phenytoin [49]. The study
ported the wound healing properties of phenytoin, and although was negative, the primary endpoint being wound closure rate.
some papers did not support such finding, most did [45]. Neither the selection of the vehicle and its pH, nor the selection of
the dose was discussed in the paper.
Phenytoin in clinical trials: proof of its wound healing In another recent paper, a lotion was tested in a randomized
properties? controlled trial, based on 1 g of phenytoin dissolved in 25 ml of
The first clinical paper evaluating the wound healing properties liposomal base applied on the wound in 104 patients with chronic
was published in 1957 and described accelerated wound healing in venous ulcer [50]. Details of the liposomal base and its pH were not
gingival wounds [46]. Some if not most of the early studies reported, and again only one dose was tested. The rate of ulcer
evaluated phenytoin after oral application, and in this section reduction, measured as the mean surface area of the ulcers, was
we will review only a number of clinical studies evaluating the faster in the study group than control group.
efficacy and safety of topical formulations on phenytoin, as exam- In a controlled clinical trial, phenytoin was tested against a
ples of how the issue of repurposing was explored. topical Aloe vera preparation for chronic wound closure, but again
In 1993 in a prospectively controlled trial versus normal wound no details on concentration and pH of the phenytoin formulation
treatment, Bansal compared phenytoin powder sprinkled on the were given, other than the application of one fingertip unit of the
wound and found that topical application of phenytoin could topical preparation of the aloe formulation or phenytoin twice a
significantly accelerate the healing of trophic leprosy ulcers [47]. day for a period of 30 days. Both topical treatments significantly
In one study, melanonocytic naevi were dissected and healing improved wound healing compared to baseline.
rates were compared in a single blind placebo controlled design. In 2007, a systematic review was published covering 14 RCTs in
Phenytoin showed a statistically significant difference regarding this field, and the conclusion was that there may be a positive
wounded area and healing time compared to placebo cream. effect on wound healing in a variety of wounds but the studies are
Patients were their own control. One of the injuries after a biopsy of moderate methodological quality only [51]. The review was
received a wound dressing with topical phenytoin 0.5% cream, based on a formal analysis of the design of the studies, and no

4 www.drugdiscoverytoday.com
Please cite this article in press as: Keppel, J.M. Phenytoin repositioned in wound healing: clinical experience spanning 60 years, Drug Discov Today (2017), https://doi.org/10.1016/j.
drudis.2017.09.020
DRUDIS 2095 1–7

Drug Discovery Today  Volume 00, Number 00  October 2017 REVIEWS

analysis followed on the selection of formulation, issues like a range of concentrations promotes wound healing, without sys-
wound pH and the selected concentrations of phenytoin. temic side effects. The absorption of phenytoin via the wound is
All of these efforts did not lead to a clear picture of the best and indiscernible and does not lead to clinical relevant plasma levels.
most effective formulation of phenytoin for wound healing. Too Recently, Professor Ioannidis’s group published ‘A manifesto for
many parameters remained unstudied. The work on oral wounds reproducible science’ [54]. The authors list a number of threats to
however led to the commercialization of a topical phenytoin reproducible science, and some seem to apply to the papers dis-
formulation, a toothpaste, (brandname Pyorédol) was available cussed above; for instance, low statistical power, analytical flexi-
from Laboratoires Roussel, France, in the 1970s for the treatment bility and data dredging. On the other hand, a coherent theory can

Reviews  POST SCREEN


of periodontal diseases. The formulation subsequently vanished be conceptualized here as to why phenytoin would act as a wound
from the market, apparently not having achieved commercial healing agent, based on the complexities in the biology of wound
success [52]. healing and the mechanisms of action of phenytoin, although
there still is quite some confusion in this field. New development
Discussion work would most probably need to lead to innovative and new
In Table 2, we summarized a number of clinical trials selected for findings, and support a patent protected formulation strategy for
the purposes of analysing the specifications in the studies for the such a new formulation of phenytoin. The putative market for
specific formulation, the concentration and whether sodium phe- phenytoin formulations in wound is hugh, it is estimated that the
nytoin or phenytoin was used. It is important to note that phe- overall wound care market reaches 22.01 Billion USD by 2022 []. Q3
nytoin is practically insoluble in water, while the sodium salt can The wound care market is classified into advanced wound man-
be soluble: its solubility in water is around 1 g/66 ml. agement products, surgical wound care products, and traditional
Most formulations used in studies however were water-based wound care products. Advanced wound management products are
(creams, gels, solutions) and this would imply the use of the expected to lead the global wound care market in the future, and a
sodium salt, resulting in a high pH of the formulation, unless new topical formulation based on phenytoin could probably enter
buffered. Surprisingly, such information is not mentioned by any this market in 2022 from the moment a patent on such innovative
author, and neither could we find specifications of the pH of the formulation would be filed.
formulation used, although in wound biology it is well known
that pH influences healing. Measurements of pH of the wound Concluding remarks
environment with and without phenytoin are also missing. The Phenytoin has been repositioned in many disorders, apart from
concentrations of phenytoin tested in clinical varied from 100% the initial indication of epilepsy. We have been able to identify a
(pure powder) to 0.5% (Table 2). We could not identify any dose- number of neurological, psychiatric and non-CNS indications for
finding studies. This is remarkable, as pharmacologists pointed out phenytoin, all supported by pilot studies. Wound healing was
in 1999 that phenytoin could increase keratinocyte proliferation the indication most frequently explored. Phenytoin has been
at low concentrations, although higher concentrations were not as evaluated in a clinical setting for 80 years and has an impressive
well tolerated as by fibroblasts [53]. track record of drug repositioning. We identified ample proof of
The fact that phenytoin is not water soluble stresses the utmost principle studies but due to the quality of these studies, the
importance of the formulation tested, which needs to facilitate the reproducibility of the data is an important point of concern.
administration of the drug in a continuous and controlled fashion, Wound healing is the indication most often evaluated. Innova-
with optimal local tissue bioavailability and in an optimal dose at tions in the field of phenytoin still appear to be possible, and use
the wound site. To date, none of these factors have been explored patents or formulation patents could most probably be designed
sufficiently in clinical trials. to create the required protection, especially in wound healing.
However, given all these omissions, there is a long tradition of Such patents should bring forth innovative and new ways to
observations and clinical pilot studies in wound healing effectively formulate the most optimal wound healing environment, based
treated by phenytoin. All observations and results of the pilot on an effective concentration of phenytoin in the selected for-
studies point in the same direction. Phenytoin applied topically in mulation.

TABLE 2
Formulations and concentrations of phenytoin tested in studies
Study Formulation Concentration of phenytoin N
Carneiro et al. [26] Phenytoin powder 100% 64
Carneiro et al. [27] Phenytoin powder 100% 102
Bansal et al. [47] Phenytoin powder 100% 100
Hokkam et al. [31] Phenytoin lotion: liposomal base 4% 104
El-Nahas et al. [55] Phenytoin aerosol powder 2% 32
Bhatia et al. [34] Phenytoin sodium suspension 2%, 4% 45
Pereira et al. [48] Phenytoin cream 0.5% 100
Pendse et al. [56] Phenytoin ‘topical’ Not specified 75
Hollisaz et al. [57] Phenytoin cream Not specified 91
Shaw et al. [49] Hydrogel dressing (delivering 6 mg/cm2 phenytoin Not specified 65
Panahi et al. [58] Phenytoin cream Not specified 60

www.drugdiscoverytoday.com 5
Please cite this article in press as: Keppel, J.M. Phenytoin repositioned in wound healing: clinical experience spanning 60 years, Drug Discov Today (2017), https://doi.org/10.1016/j.
drudis.2017.09.020
DRUDIS 2095 1–7

REVIEWS Drug Discovery Today  Volume 00, Number 00  October 2017

Conflict of interest Uncited references Q4


The author is one of the patent holders of two patents related to [20,59].
repurposing of phenytoin: topical phenytoin for use in the treat-
ment of peripheral neuropathic pain and topical pharmaceutical
composition containing phenytoin and a (co-)analgesic for the
treatment of chronic pain.

References
Reviews  POST SCREEN

1 Leufkens, B. and Langedijk, J. (2016) Drug Rediscovery: Regulatory Considerations and NaV1. 7 blocker to a less selective sodium channel blocker. J. Med. Ther. 1, 1–3
Challenges. Presentation of Medicine Evaluation Board, 2016. https://www.zonmw.nl/ http://dx.doi.org/10.15761/JMT.1000104
fileadmin/zonmw/documenten/Geneesmiddelen/Drug_Rediscovery/GGG? 26 Carneiro, P.M. and Nyawawa, E.T. (2003) Topical phenytoin versus EUSOL in the
congres_2016/160407_GGG_Leufkens.pdf treatment of non-malignant chronic leg ulcers. East Afr. Med. J. 80, 124–129
2 Biginelli, P. (1891) Ueber aldehyduramide des acetessigäthers. Eur. J. Inorg. Chem. 24, 27 Carneiro, P.M. et al. (2002) A comparison of topical Phenytoin with Silverex in the
1317–1319 treatment of superficial dermal burn wounds. Cent. Afr. J. Med. 48, 105–108
3 Kappe, and Oliver, C. (1993) 100 years of the Biginelli dihydropyrimidine synthesis. 28 Baharvand, M. (2015) Phenytoin mouthwash to treat cancer therapy-induced oral
Tetrahedron 49, 6937–6963 mucositis: a pilot study Primary neuroendocrine carcinoma of breast: a rare tumor.
4 Golub Lorne, M. et al. (1991) Tetracyclines inhibit connective tissue breakdown: new Indian J. Cancer 52, 81–85
therapeutic implications for an old family of drugs. Crit. Rev. Oral Biol. Med. 2, 297– 29 Panahi, Y. et al. (2015) Comparative trial of Aloe vera/olive oil combination cream
321 versus phenytoin cream in the treatment of chronic wounds. J. Wound Care 24,
5 Ravot, E. et al. (1999) New uses for old drugs in HIV infection. Drugs 58, 459–460
953–963 30 Shaw, J. et al. (2011) The effect of topical phenytoin on healing in diabetic foot
6 Goetz, C.G. (1998) New lessons from old drugs Amantadine and Parkinson’s disease. ulcers: a randomized controlled trial. Diabet. Med. 28, 1154–1157
Neurology 50, 1211–1212 31 Hokkam, E. et al. (2011) The use of topical phenytoin for healing of chronic venous
7 Vastag, B.1 (2000) Old drugs find new Life. Natl. Cancer Inst. 92, 298http://dx.doi.org/ ulcerations. Int. J. Surg. 9, 335–338
10.1093/jnci/92.4.298 32 Bahmani, M. et al. (2011) Can topical phenytoin augment the therapeutic efficacy of
8 Ashburn, T.T. and Thor, K.B. (2004) Drug repositioning: identifying and developing PUVA against vitiligo? A double-blind, randomized, bilateral-comparison, placebo-
new uses for existing drugs. Nat. Rev. Drug Discov. 3, 673–683 controlled study. J. Dermatol. Treat. 22, 106–108
9 Keppel Hesselink, J.M. (2017) NS1209/SPD 502, a novel selective AMPA antagonist 33 Subbanna, P.K. et al. (2007) Topical phenytoin solution for treating pressure ulcers: a
for stroke, neuropathic pain or epilepsy? Drug development lessons learned. Drug prospective, randomized, double-blind clinical trial. Spinal Cord 45, 739–743
Dev. Res. (February), http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/ddr.213762 34 Bhatia, A. et al. (2004) Topical phenytoin suspension and normal saline in the
10 Stahl, S.M. et al. (1998) Effectiveness of ipsapirone, a 5-HT-1A partial agonist, in treatment of leprosy trophic ulcers: a randomized, double-blind, comparative study.
major depressive disorder: support for the role of 5-HT-1A receptors in the J. Dermatol. Treat. 15, 321–327
mechanism of action of serotonergic antidepressants. Int. J. Neuropsychopharmacol. 35 Hollisaz, M.T. et al. (2004) A randomized clinical trial comparing hydrocolloid,
1, 11–18 phenytoin and simple dressings for the treatment of pressure ulcers. BMC Dermatol.
11 Bielenberg, G.W. and Burkhardt, M. (1990) 5-hydroxytryptamine1A agonists: a new 15, 18
therapeutic principle for stroke treatment. Stroke 21 (12 Suppl), 161–163 36 Carneiro, P.M. and Nyawawa, E.T. (2003) Topical phenytoin versus EUSOL in the
12 Keppel Hesselink, J.M. (2016) Bimoclomol and arimoclomol: HSP-co-inducers for treatment of non-malignant chronic leg ulcers. East Afr. Med. J. 80 (March (3)),
the treatment of protein misfolding disorders, neuropathy and neuropathic pain. 124–129
J. Pain Relief 6, 279http://dx.doi.org/10.4172/2167-0846.1000279 37 Pai, M.R. et al. (2001) Topical phenytoin in diabetic ulcers: a double blind controlled
13 Kopsky, D.J. and Keppel Hesselink, J.M. (2017) Phenytoin in topical formulations trial. Indian J. Med. Sci. 55, 593–599
augments pain reduction of other topically applied analgesics in the treatment of 38 Caldwell-Brown, D. et al. (1992) Lack of efficacy of phenytoin in recessive dystrophic
trigeminal neuralgia. J. Clin. Anesth. 38, 154–155 epidermolysis bullosa: epidermolysis Bullosa Study Group. N. Engl. J. Med. 327, 163–
14 Putnam, T.J. and Merritt, H.H. (1937) Experimental determination of the 167
anticonvulsant properties of some phenyl derivatives. Science 85, 525–526 39 Teo, S.Y. et al. (2017) In vitro evaluation of novel phenytoin-loaded alkyd
15 Keppel Hesselink, J.M. and Kopsky, D.J. (2016) Phenytoin: 80 years young, from nanoemulsions designed for application in topical wound healing. J. Pharm. Sci.
epilepsy to breast cancer, a remarkable molecule with multiple modes of action. 106, 377–384
J. Neurol. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00415-017-8391-5 40 Kimball, O.P. and Horan, T.N. (1939) The use of Dilantin in the treatment of
16 Ashburn, T.T. and Thor, K.B. (2004) Drug repositioning: identifying and developing epilepsy. Ann. Intern. Med 13, 787–793
new uses for existing drugs. Nat. Rev. Drug Discov. 3, 673–683 41 Shapiro, M. (1957) Preprinted abst., annual meeting, Internat. Assn. for Dental
17 Sardana, D. et al. (2011) Drug repositioning for orphan diseases. Brief Bioinform. 12, Research. In: Shafer, W.G. (1960) Effect of dilantin sodium on growth of human
346–356 fibroblast-like cell cultures.’ Experimental Biology and Medicine 104.2,
18 Power, A. et al. (2014) Genomics-enabled drug repositioning and repurposing: 198–201.
insights from an IOM Roundtable activity. JAMA 311, 2063–2064 42 Shafer, W.G. (1958) Effect of dilantin sodium on tensile strength of healing wounds.
19 Oprea, T.I. and Mestres, J. (2012) Drug repurposing: far beyond new targets for old Exp. Biol. Med. 98, 348–350
drugs. AAPS J. 14, 759–763 43 Shapiro, M.D.D.S. (1957) Acceleration of gingival wound healing in non-epileptic
20 Search on 21-1-17. (http://drug-repurposing.nationwidechildrens.org./search/all/ patients receiving diphenylhydantoin sodium (dilantin, epanutin). Exp. Med. Surg.
phenytoin). 16 (1), 41–53
21 Kopsky D.J, Keppel Hesselink JM. (2016) Topical phenytoin for use in the treatment 44 Shafer, W.G. (1961) Effect of dilantin sodium analogues on cell proliferation in
of peripheral neuropathic pain’, and Kopsky D.J, Keppel Hesselink J.M. (2016) tissue culture. Proc. Soc. Exp. Biol. Med. 106 (1), 205–207
Topical pharmaceutical composition containing phenytoin and a (co-)analgesic for 45 Donoff, R.B. (1978) The effect of diphenylhydantoin on open wound healing in
the treatment of chronic pain. guinea pigs. J. Surg. Res. 24, 41–44
22 Tobinick, E.L. (2009) The value of drug repositioning in the current pharmaceutical 46 Shapiro, M.D.D.S. (1957) Acceleration of gingival wound healing in non-epileptic
market. Drug News Perspect. 22, 119–125 patients receiving diphenylhydantoin sodium (dilantin, epanutin). Exp. Med. Surg.
23 Keppel Hesselink, J.M. (2017) Arguments to develop TRPV1 antagonist in 16, 41–53
neuropathic pain. Lessons for drug development. Clin. Res. Trials (CRT) 47 Bansal, N.K. and Mukul, M.D. (1993) Comparison of topical phenytoin with normal
http://dx.doi.org/10.15761/CRT.1000165 saline in the treatment of chronic trophic ulcers in leprosy. Int. J. Dermatol. 32,
24 Ahnen, D.J. (1998) Colon cancer prevention by NSAIDs: what is the mechanism of 210–213
action? Eur. J. Surg. 582 (Suppl), 111–114 48 Pereira, C.A. and Alchorne, A.O. (2010) Assessment of the effect of phenytoin on
25 Keppel Hesselink, J.M. (2017) Moving targets in sodium channel blocker cutaneous healing from excision of melanocytic nevi on the face and on the back.
development: the case of raxatrigine: from a central NaV1. 3 blocker via a peripheral BMC Dermatol. 10, 7http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/1471-5945-10-7

6 www.drugdiscoverytoday.com
Please cite this article in press as: Keppel, J.M. Phenytoin repositioned in wound healing: clinical experience spanning 60 years, Drug Discov Today (2017), https://doi.org/10.1016/j.
drudis.2017.09.020
DRUDIS 2095 1–7

Drug Discovery Today  Volume 00, Number 00  October 2017 REVIEWS

49 Shaw, J. et al. (2011) The effect of topical phenytoin on healing in diabetic foot 55 (2009) J. Wound Care 18 (1) 33–37
ulcers: a randomized controlled trial. Diabet. Med. 28, 1154–1157 56 (1993) Topical phenytoin in wound healing? Int. J. Dermatol. 32 (3), 214–217
50 Hokkam, E. , El-Labban, G. , Shams, M. , Rifaat, S. and El-Mezaien, M. (2011) The use 57 (2004) A randomized clinical trial comparing hydrocolloid, phenytoin and simple
of topical phenytoin for healing of chronic venous ulcerations. Int. J. Surg. 9 (4), dressings for the treatment of pressure ulcers. BMC Dermatol. 4 (1), 18
335–338 58 Panahi, Y. et al. (2015) Comparative trial of Aloe vera/olive oil combination cream
51 (2007) The clinical effect of topical phenytoin on wound healing: a systematic versus phenytoin cream in the treatment of chronic wounds. J. Wound Care 24 (10),
review. Br. J. Dermatol. 157 (November (5)), 997–1004 459–465
52 Chikhani, P. (1972) Utilisation de la phenytoine sodique dans le traitement des 59 Markets and Markets. Wound Care Market by Product (Advanced (Foam, Alginate,
paradontopathies. Actual Odontostomatol. (Paris) 26, 265–274 Hydrogel, NPWT, Active), Surgical, Traditional), Type (Chronic (Diabetic Foot,
53 Talas, G. et al. (1999) Role of phenytoin in wound healing-a wound pharmacology Pressure Ulcer), Acute (Burn, Trauma)), End User (Hospital, Long-term Care, Home
perspective. Biochem. Pharmacol. 57, 1085–1094 Healthcare) – Global Forecast to 2022.

Reviews  POST SCREEN


54 Munafò, M.R. et al. (2017) A manifesto for reproducible science. Nat. Hum. Behav.
10, 0021

www.drugdiscoverytoday.com 7
Please cite this article in press as: Keppel, J.M. Phenytoin repositioned in wound healing: clinical experience spanning 60 years, Drug Discov Today (2017), https://doi.org/10.1016/j.
drudis.2017.09.020

You might also like