Development of novel drugs for human African trypanosomiasis

Future Microbiol. 2011 Jun;6(6):677-91. doi: 10.2217/fmb.11.44.

Abstract

Human African trypanosomiasis (HAT) or 'sleeping sickness' is a neglected tropical disease caused by the parasite Trypanosoma brucei. Novel models for funding pharmaceutical development against HAT are beginning to yield results. The Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (DNDi) rediscovered a nitroimidazole, fexinidazole, which is currently in Phase I clinical trials. Novel benzoxaboroles, discovered by Anacor, Scynexis and DNDi, have good pharmacokinetic properties in plasma and in the brain and are curative in a murine model of stage two HAT with brain infection. The Consortium for Parasitic Drug Development (CPDD) has identified a series of dicationic compounds that can cure a monkey model of stage two HAT. With other screening programs yielding hits, the pipeline for new HAT drugs might finally begin to fill.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antiprotozoal Agents / pharmacology*
  • Antiprotozoal Agents / therapeutic use
  • Benzoxazoles / pharmacology
  • Benzoxazoles / therapeutic use
  • Clinical Trials as Topic
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Drug Evaluation, Preclinical / methods*
  • Haplorhini
  • Humans
  • Mice
  • Neglected Diseases / drug therapy
  • Neglected Diseases / parasitology
  • Nitroimidazoles / pharmacology
  • Nitroimidazoles / therapeutic use
  • Trypanosoma brucei brucei / drug effects*
  • Trypanosomiasis, African / drug therapy*
  • Trypanosomiasis, African / parasitology

Substances

  • Antiprotozoal Agents
  • Benzoxazoles
  • Nitroimidazoles
  • fexinidazole