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Antiprotozoal agents: How have they changed over a decade?
Vitória de Souza Fernandes1, Rafael da Rosa2, Lara A Zimmermann2
1Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Pharmaceutical and Medicinal Chemistry Laboratory, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, Brazil.
Archiv Der Pharmazie
|October 18, 2021
Summary
Drug development for neglected tropical diseases, particularly protozoal infections like malaria and leishmaniasis, remains a challenge. This review examines recent advances in treatments and clinical candidates over the past decade.
Area of Science:
- Tropical medicine
- Infectious diseases
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) disproportionately affect low-income regions.
- Existing treatments for protozoal NTDs often have limitations in availability, administration, safety, and efficacy.
- There is a significant gap in pharmaceutical industry interest for developing new therapeutic options for these diseases.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the evolution of available drugs for treating protozoal diseases over the last decade.
- To identify and discuss clinical candidates currently under investigation for these conditions.
- To assess the current landscape of therapeutic options for malaria, leishmaniasis, human African trypanosomiasis, and American trypanosomiasis.
Main Methods:
- Comprehensive literature review of antiprotozoal agents.
- Analysis of drug development trends over the past ten years.
- Examination of clinical trial data for emerging therapies.
Main Results:
- Limited progress in new drug approvals for several key protozoal diseases.
- Several promising clinical candidates are in various stages of development.
- Ongoing challenges persist regarding drug accessibility, safety profiles, and treatment efficacy.
Conclusions:
- The therapeutic landscape for neglected protozoal diseases shows slow but incremental progress.
- Continued research and development, alongside increased pharmaceutical investment, are crucial.
- Addressing the unmet medical needs for these diseases requires sustained global effort.
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