Innovative lead discovery strategies for tropical diseases

Lead discovery is currently a key bottleneck in the pipeline for much-needed novel drugs for tropical diseases such as malaria, tuberculosis, African sleeping sickness, leishmaniasis and Chagas disease. Here, we discuss the different approaches to lead discovery for tropical diseases and emphasize a coordination strategy that involves highly integrated partnerships and networks between scientists in academic institutions and industry in both wealthy industrialized countries and disease-endemic countries. This strategy offers the promise of reducing the inherently high attrition rate of the early stages of discovery research, thereby increasing the chances of success and enhancing cost-effectiveness.