Searching for drugs for Chagas disease, leishmaniasis and schistosomiasis: a review

Author(s)

Santos, Soraya Silva ^[1] ; de Araujo, Renan Vinicius ^[1] ; Giarolla, Jeanine ^[1] ; El Seoud, Omar ^[1] ; Ferreira, Elizabeth Igne ^[1]

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Sao Paulo, Fac Pharmaceut Sci, Dept Pharm, Lab Design & Synth Chemotherapeut Potentially Act, Ave Prof Lineu Prestes, 580 Bldg 13, BR-05508900 Sao Paulo, SP - Brazil

• Document type: Review article
• Source: INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ANTIMICROBIAL AGENTS; v. 55, n. 4 APR 2020.
• Web of Science Citations: 0

Abstract

Chagas disease, leishmaniasis and schistosomiasis are neglected diseases (NDs) and are a considerable global challenge. Despite the huge number of people infected, NDs do not create interest from pharmaceutical companies because the associated revenue is generally low. Most of the research on these diseases has been conducted in academic institutions. The chemotherapeutic armamentarium for NDs is scarce and inefficient and better drugs are needed. Researchers have found some promising potential drug candidates using medicinal chemistry and computational approaches. Most of these compounds are synthetic but some are from natural sources or are semi-synthetic. Drug repurposing or repositioning has also been greatly stimulated for NDs. This review considers some potential drug candidates and provides details of their design, discovery and activity. (C) 2020 Published by Elsevier B.V. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 15/19438-1 - Synthesis and studies of bioactive compounds release from dendrimer prodrugs and targeted drugs potentially active in neglected diseases
• Grantee: Jeanine Giarolla Vargas
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• FAPESP's process: 17/21154-7 - First generation polyamidoamine (PAMAM): design and synthesis of a potentially active tuberculosis prodrug
• Grantee: Renan Vinicius de Araujo
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation