Targets and patented drugs for chemotherapy of Chagas disease in the last 15 years-period.

Targets and patented drugs for chemotherapy of Chagas disease in the last 15 years-period. Recent Pat Antiinfect Drug Discov. 2016 Oct 24; Authors: Duschak VG Abstract The American trypanosomiasis, Chagas disease, is a parasitic infection typically spread by triatomine vectors affecting millions of people all over Latin America. Existing chemotherapy is centered on the nitroaromatic compounds benznidazole and nifurtimox that provide unsatisfactory results and substantial side effects. So, the finding and exploration of novel ways to challenge this neglected disease is a main priority. The biologic and biochemical progress in the scientific knowledge of Trypanosoma cruzi in the period comprising the last 15-years, has increased the identification of multiple targets for Chagas´ disease chemotherapy. In the middle of the best encouraging targets for trypanocidal drugs, ergosterol biosynthesis pathway and cruzipain, a key cysteine protease (CP) of T. cruzi, have been pointed out. Unfortunately, recent clinical trials investigating the administration of pozoconazole and ravuconazole to chronic indeterminate Chagas disease patients revealed their inferiority compared to the standard drug Benznidazole. In view of the information gained in the preceding years, a reasonable approach for the fast development of novel anti-T. cruzi chemotherapy would be focused on K777, the cysteine proteinase inhibitor (CPI) near to enter to clinical trials,...
Source: Recent Patents on Anti-Infective Drug Discovery - Category: Infectious Diseases Tags: Recent Pat Antiinfect Drug Discov Source Type: research