Challenges in antimalarial drug discovery

Future Med Chem. 2011 Sep;3(11):1401-12. doi: 10.4155/fmc.11.91.

Abstract

Malaria is one of the most devastating diseases in the world, affecting almost 225 million people a year, and causing over 780,000 deaths, most of which are children under the age of 5 years. Following the recent call for the eradication of the disease, supported by the WHO, there has been increasing investment into antimalarial drug-discovery projects. These activities are aimed at generating the next generation of molecules focused on the treatment and transmission-blocking of Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax endo- and exo-erythrocytic stages of the parasite. This article summarizes the current top-level thinking regarding the prosecution of such endeavors and the disease-specific considerations in project planning.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antimalarials* / chemical synthesis
  • Antimalarials* / chemistry
  • Antimalarials* / therapeutic use
  • Chemistry, Pharmaceutical
  • Drug Discovery / methods*
  • Drug Discovery / organization & administration
  • Drug Discovery / trends
  • Humans
  • Malaria / blood
  • Malaria / drug therapy*
  • Malaria / transmission
  • Structure-Activity Relationship

Substances

  • Antimalarials