Neglected Diseases and Drug Discovery

An invaluable guide to successful practice in neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) and highlights best practice to guide the ongoing drug discovery effort.

There are ~8 million deaths every year from neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) in the underdeveloped world, whilst drug discovery focus and practice is only recently taking on greater urgency and embracing the latest technologies. The aim of this book is to present a state-of-the-art review of drug discovery in respect of NTDs and to highlight best practice to guide ongoing drug discovery effort, to raise awareness and promote debate in neglected disease areas that still have unmet medical need. Neglected Diseases and Drug Discovery, details nearly all of the key diseases that fall into this class. It sets out to make a critical appraisal of ongoing research with a focus on the key science that has led to breakthroughs, especially from a medicinal chemistry perspective. The book covers in great depth current efforts in the malaria, trypanosomatid, flavivirus and tuberculosis fields, wherein an upsurge in research efforts has been evident in recent times. Additionally, there is some focus on the 'neglected' neglected diseases, notably diarrhea, helminths, HIV (in worldwide terms) and lower respiratory tract infections. In respect of the more publicised disease areas such as malaria there is a review of each disease and established compounds, mechanistic classes and new horizons. In the more under-publicised areas the chapters seek to highlight the pressing need for better and more widely available treatments Written by a team of experienced experts the book will prove to be an invaluable guide to successful practice in NTDs highlighting ongoing and new drug discovery efforts in this field. It will aid both researchers and the general reader, by summarising the key learning to date and provide a clear overview of the challenges that remain.

There are about 8 million deaths each year from neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) in the underdeveloped world, whilst drug discovery focus and practice is only recently taking on greater urgency and embracing the latest technologies. This unique book is a state of the art review of drug discovery in respect of NTDs and highlights best practice to guide the ongoing drug discovery effort and also to raise debate and awareness in areas that remain highly neglected. All the major diseases such as malaria, trypanosomatids and TB are covered, with a review of each disease and established compounds, new mechanistic classes and new horizons. Each chapter highlights the key science that has led to breakthroughs, with detailed assessment of the key medicinal chemistry involved, and critical appraisal of new emerging approaches. Later chapters highlight under publicized disease areas where the medical needs are neglected and research is very limited, to raise awareness. The editors, acknowledged experts in the field, have a wealth of experience in successful drug discovery practice and tropical diseases.