Table 3 Limitations and desired product profiles of drugs for leishmania, Human African Trypanosomiasis, and Chagas disease
Drugs | Limitations | Desired profiles of new products |
|---|---|---|
Leishmaniasis | ||
Antimonials (1950) | Safety, poor compliance, resistance | Active against resistant strains; oral drug or safe injectable; cure in less than 28 days; pediatric formulation; potential combination with other agents; use in pregnancy; stable under tropical conditions; affordable |
Pentamidine (Lomidine) (1939) | Safety, poor compliance, resistance | |
Amphotericin B (Fungizone) (1959) | Safety, poor compliance, resistance | |
Liposomal amphotericin B (AmBisome) (1990) | Safety, poor compliance, resistance | |
Miltefosine (2002) | Safety, poor compliance, resistance | |
Sodium Stibogluconate/paromomycin (SSG&PM) (2010) | Contra-indicated in pregnancy | |
Human African Trypanosomiasis | ||
Suramin (1920) | Efficacy, injectable | Use against early and late stage disease; active against both major species; parenteral with option for oral use; cure in less than 14 days; pediatric formulation; potential combination with other agents; use in pregnancy; stable under tropical conditions; affordable |
Melarsoprol (1949) | Safety, injectable | |
Pentamidine (1939) | Resistance, compliance, injectable | |
Eflornithine (1991) | Cost, injectable, efficacy | |
NECT (Nifurtimox/eflornithine) (2009) | Cost, injectable, compliance | |
Chagas disease | ||
Benznidazole (1970) | Activity limited to acute stage of disease, some safety issues | Active against blood and tissue forms of parasite; active in prevention of chronic stage of the disease; pediatric formulation; potential combination with other agents; use in pregnancy; stable under tropical conditions; affordable |
Nifurtimox (1974) | Activity limited to acute stage of disease, some safety issues | Â |