Chemotherapy of Chagas' disease: status and new developments

Abstract

Chagas' disease is a major parasitic problem in developing countries in Central and South America. Chemotherapy for such disease is still insufficient and not effective in its chronic part. Many efforts have been made in recent years to know more about possible new biochemical targets to design new selective drugs. This paper reviews old therapeutic approaches -Nifurtimox, Benznidazole and related compounds- and the latest rationally developed drugs that prove to be active against different parasitic forms.