New Chemotherapeutic Strategies Against Malaria, Leishmaniasis and Trypanosomiases

M.      Zucca; S.      Scutera; D.      Savoia

Abstract

Due to the persistent lack of suitable vaccines, chemotherapy remains the only option for the treatment of patients infected by protozoan parasites. However, most available antiparasitic drugs have serious disadvantages, ranging from high cost and poor compliance to high toxicity and rapid induction of resistance. In recent decades basic research laboratories identified a considerable number of promising new molecules, but their development has not been pursued in depth by pharmaceutical firms because of poor prospects of economic return. The establishment of adequately funded public-private partnerships is currently reversing the trend. This review deals with new drugs against Plasmodium, Leishmania and Trypanosoma parasites, focusing on the molecules that are in the most advanced stage of development. The purpose of this article is to provide the reader with a panoramic view of the updated literature on the challenges and strategies of contemporary antiprotozoal drug research, paying the due attention to the already published reviews.

Keywords: Antibiotics, antiprotozoal chemotherapy, leishmania, natural products, plasmodium, trypanosoma, patients infected, protozoan parasites, antiparasitic drugs, toxicity