Picaridin - A New Insect Repellent

Picaridin-A New Insect Repellent

ABSTRACT & COMMENTARY

By Michele Barry, MD, FACP

Professor of Medicine; Co-Director, Tropical Medicine and International Travelers' Clinic, Yale University School of Medicine
Dr. Barry is a consultant with the Ford Foundation and she receives funds from Johnson & Johnson for academic programs.

Synopsis: Unlike DEET, Picaridin is odorless, not greasy, less likely to irritate skin, and does not damage plastic or fabrics.

Sources: Picaridin- A New Insect Repellent. Med Lett Drugs Ther. 2005;47(1210):46-47; Frances SP, et al. Field Evaluation of Repellent Formulations Against Daytime and Nighttime Biting Mosquitoes in a Tropical Rainforest in Northern Australia. J Med Entomol. 2002;39:541-544.

Picaridin (kbr 3023) is a new mosquito repellent that the CDC is recommending as an alternative to DEET compounds. Picaridin (KBR 3023) has been available for several years in Europe and Australia and now recently available in the United States, formulated as a 7% concentration by Cutter Advanced from Spectrum brands. This preparation, however, is different from Picaridin/Bayrepel, a product made by Bayer, which is available overseas and generally has the much higher 19.2% to 20% concentration of Picaridin. Medical Letter, CDC, and WHO have come out with statements indicating that Picaridin (KBR 3023) is comparable to DEET products of similar concentrations.

Participants in one picaridin field study, performed in rainforest of northern Queensland, Australia, compared 19.2% Picaridin-Autan (Bayar) to 35% DEET gel and found equivalent protection (95% for 7-9 hours). During this study, a lower percentage Picaridin (9.3%) only protected 95% for 2 hours, thus the 7% formulation released in the United States form will need to be reapplied on the
skin every 2-3 hours. The manufacturer is recommending reapplication with low percentage products. Unlike DEET, it is odorless, not greasy, less likely to irritate skin, and does not damage plastic or fabrics.

Commentary

Picaridin, a piperidine derivative, is a new insect repellent which travelers may inquire about. Its chemical formula is C12H23N03 (see figure), and the name picaridin was approved by the World Health Organization. Other names that have been used for the repellent are KBR3023, Bayrepel, Hepidanin, and Autan Repel. Although Picaridin looks promising as a new insect repellent and it is less irritating than DEET, until higher percentage preparations are available in the United States, Picardin (KBR 3023) is not an appropriate repellent for travelers to the tropics due to the frequent reapplication requirement. Safety evaluations for prolonged application on adults and for episodic use in children and pregnant women have not been conducted.