Metal based drugs: from serendipity to design

Area of Science:

• Inorganic chemistry
• Medicinal chemistry
• Drug discovery

Background:

• The discovery of cisplatin, a platinum-based anticancer drug, significantly advanced testicular and ovarian cancer treatment.
• This serendipitous finding spurred research into other metal-based drugs, transitioning from chance discovery to rational drug design.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review case histories demonstrating rational drug design in modern inorganic medicinal chemistry.
• To discuss challenges in drug discovery and development within this field.

Main Methods:

• Review of the evolution of platinum-based drugs from cisplatin to third-generation agents.
• Examination of molecular targets, including DNA, thiol-containing proteins, and redox processes.
• Case study analysis of Fosrenol as a safe and effective metal-based drug.

Main Results:

• The evolution of platinum drugs showcases a progression towards more targeted and potentially safer therapies.
• Identification of DNA as the primary molecular target for platinum agents, with exploration of alternative targets.
• Fosrenol serves as an example of a successful, simple, and safe metal-based drug.

Conclusions:

• Rational drug design is pivotal in overcoming challenges in inorganic medicinal chemistry.
• Exploring alternative molecular targets beyond DNA is crucial for developing next-generation metal-based drugs.
• Successful metal-based drugs like Fosrenol demonstrate the potential of inorganic chemistry in creating safe and efficacious therapeutics.