Challenges and recent progress in drug discovery for tropical diseases

Abstract

Infectious tropical diseases have a huge effect in terms of mortality and morbidity, and impose a heavy economic burden on affected countries. These diseases predominantly affect the world's poorest people. Currently available drugs are inadequate for the majority of these diseases, and there is an urgent need for new treatments. This Review discusses some of the challenges involved in developing new drugs to treat these diseases and highlights recent progress. While there have been notable successes, there is still a long way to go.

Fig. 1. Deaths and disability-adjusted life years (DALYS) due to tropical diseases.

From WHO estimates of cause-specific mortality (2015) and disease burden (2015). Diarrhoeal diseases, tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS, malaria and hepatitis are shown separately as they have a much larger impact. Data are shown by WHO region for regions that contain tropical countries.

Fig. 2. The drug-discovery process.

Top, the stages of the drug-discovery process; middle, generic challenges; bottom, additional key challenges at particular stages of the drug-discovery process for neglected diseases. Biological and pharmacokinetic issues are shown in lilac, chemical issues are shown in light blue and clinical issues are shown in red.

Fig. 3. Key compounds discussed in the text.

Key compounds discussed in the text.