title: Neglected Tropical Protozoan Diseases: Drug Repositioning as a Rational Option.
abstract: Neglected tropical diseases represent a major sanitary problem and a huge economic burden to endemic countries, and are currently expanding to non-endemic countries owing to migration currents. Though long abandoned in the past, recent research on novel therapeutics has already started to show results. Drug repositioning is one of the prominent, more successful strategies to approach the development of new treatments for these diseases. Here we present an overview on the limitations of the current available medications to treat African trypanosomiasis, Chagas disease and Leishmaniasis, along with a review on drug candidates presently undergoing clinical trials and drug candidates identified through drug repositioning initiatives.
authors.forename: María Laura
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Sbaraglini
authors.forename: María Cristina
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Vanrell
authors.forename: Carolina Leticia
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Bellera
authors.forename: Gustavo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Benaim
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Ciencias y Tecnología César Milstein, Saladillo 2468, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires (1440), Argentina. carolina.carrillo.phd@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Carolina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Carrillo
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Exact Sciences, National University of La Plata, 47 y 115, La Plata (1900), Argentina. atalevi@biol.unlp.edu.ar.
authors.forename: Alan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Talevi
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medical Sciences, National University of Cuyo, Avenida Libertador 80, Mendoza (5500), Argentina. promano@fcm.uncu.edu.ar.
authors.forename: Patricia Silvia
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Romano
mesh_terms: D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014355:Chagas Disease / Q000188:drug therapy; D058492:Drug Repositioning / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007896:Leishmaniasis / Q000188:drug therapy; D058069:Neglected Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy*; D010419:Pentamidine / Q000494:pharmacology; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D013498:Suramin / Q000494:pharmacology; D014353:Trypanosomiasis, African / Q000188:drug therapy
chemical_list: D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors; D013498:Suramin; D010419:Pentamidine