Drug Discovery for Human African Trypanosomiasis

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DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The overall goal of this project is to identify new pre-clinical drug candidates to treat human African trypanosomiasis (HAT, sleeping sickness), including stage 2 of the disease when the parasites have entered the central nervous system. HAT remains one of the most neglected diseases on the globe. New drugs are needed since existing drugs are highly toxic or require very high dosing. We have identified five structural scaffolds that show sub-micromolar potency to kill the parasite that causes HAT (Trypanosoma brucei) and that have the potential to cross into the central nervous system. In preliminary results, we show that a compound of one of the scaffolds cures mice with acute T. brucei infection. We will carry out hit-to-lead medicinal chemistry on these five scaffolds. The compounds will be tested for their ability to kill trypanosomes preferentially over mammalian cells, and ultimately for efficacy in rodent models of HAT. In vitro experiments will be done to assess aqueous solubility, the stability of compounds to metabolism by liver microsomes, and membrane permeability. Pharmacokinetic and brain penetration experiments will be done to assess their suitability for treating stage 2 infection. Preliminary toxicology studies will also b carried out on our top performing compounds. The hope is to identify 1-2 new compounds that can be transitioned into clinical trials for treating HAT, including stage 2 of the disease.