Inhibitors of glycogen synthase kinase-3: future therapy for unmet medical needs?

Abstract

Glycogen synthase kinase-3 (GSK-3) has recently emerged, in the field of medicinal chemistry, as one of the most attractive therapeutic targets for the development of selective inhibitors as promising new drugs for numerous serious pathologies, including Alzheimer’s disease, stroke, bipolar disorders, chronic inflammatory processes, cancer and Type II diabetes. The full potential of GSK-3 inhibitors is yet to be realised and the number of drug candidates being developed by both academic centres and pharmaceutical companies has increased exponentially in the last three years. This review discloses recent discoveries on peptides and small molecules targeting GSK-3. Antisense therapy for the modulation of GSK-3 expression is also discussed. Focusing attention on this exciting target could thus reap considerable clinical and economic rewards.

• Alzheimer’s disease
• cancer
• glycogen synthase kinase-3 (GSK-3) inhibitors
• inflammation
• Type II diabetes