Improving the tuberculosis drug development pipeline

Chem Biol Drug Des. 2015 Nov;86(5):951-60. doi: 10.1111/cbdd.12549. Epub 2015 Mar 28.

Abstract

Mycobacterium tuberculosis is considered one of the most successful pathogens and multidrug-resistant tuberculosis, a disease that urgently requires new chemical entities to be developed for treatment. There are currently several new molecules under clinical investigation in the tuberculosis (TB) drug development pipeline. However, the complex lifestyle of M. tuberculosis within the host presents a barrier to the development of new drugs. In this review, we highlight the reasons that make TB drug discovery and development challenging as well as providing solutions, future directions and alternative approaches to new therapeutics for TB.

Keywords: biological screening; drug development; gene expression; mechanism-based drug design; therapeutic target.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antitubercular Agents / chemistry
  • Antitubercular Agents / pharmacology*
  • Antitubercular Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Drug Discovery* / methods
  • Humans
  • Mycobacterium tuberculosis / drug effects*
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Tuberculosis / drug therapy*

Substances

  • Antitubercular Agents