Chapter 2

Drugs for Parasitic Diseases - Strategies to Solve a Global Problem

A. Valeria Pozzoli and Miriam A. Martins Alho

Abstract

For many years, one of the driving forces for the development of drugs has been, and still is, the pharmaceutical industry, but the need for therapeutic agents regarding unprofitable diseases makes necessary a change in this situation. Parasitic diseases are a good example since the quantity and safety of many drugs currently in use are inadequate, and the development of new agents is insufficient. In the paper herein, we discuss the main methodologies used for the development and discovery of antiparasitics, the new trends and prospects, as well as the first results achieved by supranational programs and consortia created for such purposes.

Total Pages: 41-65 (25)

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