New chemotherapeutic approaches for the treatment of Chagas disease (American Trypanosomiasis)

Abstract

Chagas disease is one of the most serious public health problems in Latin America but, due to economic considerations, there is almost no research and development effort by the pharmaceutical industry on this condition, which makes this one of the most neglected diseases in the world. However, significant advances in the understanding of the basic biology of the aetiological agent, Trypanosoma cruzi, have been made in recent decades, largely as a consequence of research carried out in academic institutions. This accumulated knowledge is now beginning to be reflected in the patent literature. In this review the patent literature for the period 1999 – 2002 was searched for claims of potential treatments for Chagas disease and 13 specific patents were identified. The majority of these patents dealt with inhibitors of cruzipain, a specific cysteine protease, which has been shown to be essential for the survival and growth of T. cruzi in its mammalian hosts. Other targets included ergosterol biosynthesis, dihydrofolate reductase, DNA topoisomerase II, neuraminidase (trans-sialidase) and acidocalcisomal Na⁺/H⁺ exchanger, as well as the use of transition metal complexes as antiparasitic agents.

• Chagas disease
• chemothreapy
• cysteine protease inhibitors
• ergosterol biosynthesis inhibitorsTrypanosoma cruzi