Page 57 - ITPS-7-4

INNOSC Theranostics

and Pharmacological Sciences

PERSPECTIVE ARTICLE
The crucial role of drug repositioning in

tackling Chagas disease, sleeping sickness, and
leishmaniasis

Exequiel O. J. Porta*

Department of Pharmaceutical and Biological Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, University College
London, London, United Kingdom

Abstract

Neglected tropical diseases (NTDs), such as Chagas disease, human African
trypanosomiasis (sleeping sickness), and leishmaniasis, disproportionately affect low-
income populations in tropical and subtropical regions, leading to high morbidity and
mortality rates. Consequently, these diseases, historically overlooked in global health
agendas, perpetuate cycles of poverty and impede economic development. Drug
repositioning, the repurposing of existing drugs for new therapeutic uses presents
a promising strategy by reducing drug development time and cost while leveraging
known safety profiles. However, despite its success in other therapeutic areas, this
approach remains underutilized for NTDs due to challenges such as a limited drug
pool, intellectual property barriers, regulatory complexities, and ethical concerns.
Essential strategies to overcome these obstacles include expanding approved drug
libraries, fostering multi-sector collaborations, streamlining regulatory processes,
*Corresponding author: and adopting innovative funding models. Collaborative efforts among governments,
Exequiel O. J. Porta
(e.porta@ucl.ac.uk) pharmaceutical companies, research institutions, and non-profit health organizations
are crucial to fully unlock the potential of drug repositioning. By working together
Citation: Porta EOJ. The crucial
role of drug repositioning in tackling as a united front, these stakeholders can ultimately transform NTD treatment and
Chagas disease, sleeping sickness, improve global health outcomes.
and leishmaniasis. INNOSC
Theranostics and Pharmacological
Sciences. 2024;7(4):3721. Keywords: Chagas disease; Drug repositioning; Drug repurposing; Leishmaniasis;
doi: 10.36922/itps.3721 Neglected tropical diseases; Parasitic diseases; Sleeping sickness
Received: May 21, 2024
Accepted: September 23, 2024
Published Online: October 15, 2024 1. Introduction
Copyright: © 2024 This
is an Open-Access article Neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) encompass a diverse group of diseases that
1
distributed under the terms predominantly afflict low-income populations in tropical and subtropical regions.
of the Creative Commons Historically, these diseases have been overlooked in global health priorities, receiving limited
AttributionNoncommercial License,
permitting all non-commercial use, attention and funding. Among these, Chagas disease, sleeping sickness (human African
distribution, and reproduction in any trypanosomiasis [HAT]), and leishmaniasis are particularly notable for their significant
medium, provided the original work 2
is properly cited. morbidity and mortality rates. Along with malaria, these parasitic diseases exert a profound
impact on global health. These diseases disproportionately affect millions in economically
3
Publisher’s Note: AccScience
Publishing remains neutral with disadvantaged areas, resulting in substantial health and socioeconomic burdens (Figure 1).
regard to jurisdictional claims in
published maps and institutional Consequently, these illnesses perpetuate cycles of poverty and impede economic
4
affiliations development in affected communities. This critical situation, marked by the significant
Volume 7 Issue 4 (2024) 1 doi: 10.36922/itps.3721