Skip to content
Clinical Trials – home

Rare diseases

Investigational molecules

Locations

Our offerNewsroom

Permethrin (CIS:trans 25:75)

1 / 1
trials open to patients / all trials
1+
Countries

About the substance

Table of contents

What is permethrin (CIS:trans 25:75)?

Permethrin (CIS:trans 25:75) is a pyrethroid, a class of medicines that acts against a broad range of pests including lice, ticks, fleas, mites and other arthropods.[2] It is a topical scabicidal agent, meaning it is applied to the skin to kill the mite that causes scabies.[2] The substance is a mixture of cis and trans isomers of a pyrethroid compound, with the cis:trans ratio approximately 25:75.[2] Its molecular formula is C21H20Cl2O3 and its molecular weight is 391.29.[2] Permethrin is already authorised as a medicine in Italy, where it is supplied by GIULIANI SPA under the product name SCABIACID 5% crema.[1] It is classified under the ATC code P03AC04, which places it among ectoparasiticides, including scabicides.[1]

How does permethrin (CIS:trans 25:75) work?

Permethrin acts on the nerve cell membrane of the mite. It disrupts the sodium channel current, which is the mechanism by which the polarisation of the nerve cell membrane is regulated.[2] This disruption leads to delayed repolarisation and paralysis of the pest.[2] After application to the skin, permethrin is rapidly metabolised by ester hydrolysis into inactive metabolites, which are excreted primarily in the urine.[2]

Which conditions is permethrin (CIS:trans 25:75) used or studied for?

  • Scabies: an infestation of the skin caused by the mite Sarcoptes scabiei, for which permethrin 5% cream is a standard topical treatment.[1][2]
  • Crab lice: permethrin cream 5% is listed as a second-line treatment for crab lice in some UK formularies.[5]
  • Head lice: permethrin is described as a pyrethroid insecticide commonly used in the treatment of lice infestations.[3]

How is permethrin (CIS:trans 25:75) given?

Permethrin is given as a cream for cutaneous use, meaning it is applied to the skin.[1] The authorised product in the trial is SCABIACID 5% crema, supplied in a 30 g tube.[1] Each gram of the cream contains 50 mg (5%) of permethrin as the active ingredient.[2] The product is for topical use only.[2]

What do the clinical trials show?

One Phase 3 clinical trial is authorised in the EU, registered under the number 2024-520348-40-00.[1] The trial is a superiority study that compares the clinical cure rate of standard treatments for scabies: topical permethrin 5% cream alone, oral ivermectin alone, and the combination of topical permethrin and oral ivermectin.[1] It plans to enrol 120 participants with clinical and light microscopy confirmed scabies.[1] The primary outcome is the percentage of subjects with a complete cure rate, defined as Score 0, at Visit 1, which takes place one week after treatment.[1] The trial is currently in the authorised status, meaning it has received regulatory approval to proceed.[1]

What side effects are known?

The provided sources do not contain a detailed side effect profile for permethrin cream. The DailyMed label describes the pharmacology and composition of the product but does not list adverse reactions in the excerpt provided.[2] The Leeds Formulary notes that there is evidence of resistance to permethrin in the UK, with a randomised controlled trial reporting a cure rate of only 19% with permethrin 1% cream rinse for head lice.[4] This resistance concern relates to effectiveness rather than side effects, and no specific adverse event data are available from the provided sources.

Conditions where Permethrin (CIS:trans 25:75) is being studied

Each condition opens its own overview and trial list

Acarodermatitis

Trials with Permethrin (CIS:trans 25:75)

Recruiting trials first

See all 1 →
Quick filters
Clinical Trials Concierge

Prefer not to search? Our Concierge searches the trials for you.

Tell us about your condition – we search every trial in Europe and connect you with the right site.