Chemotherapy of malaria.
Clinical trials continue to provide evidence for the efficacy of semi-synthetic artemisinin derivatives and the novel fixed dose combination therapies Malarone, co-artemether and chlorproguanil-dapsone. Single agents under development include the 8-aminoquinoline etaquine, pyronaridine and azithromycin. Preclinical interest in synthetic endoperoxides and quinoline analogues remains high and a significant is also being made in natural product chemistry. Dihydrofolate reductase remains a molecular drug target of interest, whereas phospholipid metabolism represents a new approach. Genomic information is likely to produce many new drug targets for exploration in the coming decade.
Ridley
R G
RG
Pharmaceuticals Division, Department PRPI-D, F. Hoffmann-La Roche, CH-4070 Basel, Switzerland. robert_g.ridley@roche.com
Hudson
A T
AT