Recent Highlights in Anti‐infective Medicinal Chemistry from South Africa. (9th April 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Veale, Clinton G. L.; Müller, Ronel
• Is Part Of: ChemMedChem. Volume 15:Number 10(2020)
• Page Start: 809
• Page End: 826
• Publication Date: 2020-04-09
• Subjects: anti-infectives -- drug discovery -- medicinal chemistry -- South Africa; Pharmaceutical chemistry -- Periodicals; 615.19005
• DOI: 10.1002/cmdc.202000086
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1860-7179

Abstract

Abstract: Global advancements in biological technologies have vastly increased the variety of and accessibility to bioassay platforms, while simultaneously improving our understanding of druggable chemical space. In the South African context, this has resulted in a rapid expansion in the number of medicinal chemistry programmes currently operating, particularly on university campuses. Furthermore, the modern medicinal chemist has the advantage of being able to incorporate data from numerous related disciplines into the medicinal chemistry process, allowing for informed molecular design to play a far greater role than previously possible. Accordingly, this review focusses on recent highlights in drug‐discovery programmes, in which South African medicinal chemistry groups have played a substantive role in the design and optimisation of biologically active compounds which contribute to the search for promising agents for infectious disease. Abstract : Local expertise, global advances : This review highlights recent drug discovery programmes, in which medicinal chemists based in South Africa have made a substantial contribution to identifying and optimising agents against infectious diseases. Although the greatest focus has been on antimalarials, there have also been excellent contributions to the search for anti‐bacterial, anti‐mycobacterial, anti‐HIV and anti‐kinetoplastid agents.