Stairway to Heaven or Hell? Perspectives and Limitations of Chagas Disease Chemotherapy

In this review, we intend to provide a general view of the evolution of experimental studies in the area of chemotherapy for Chagas disease. We can follow the process of drug development through three phases. The first phase began almost at the same time as the discovery made by Carlos Chagas and proceeds to 1970, during which time an extensive list of compounds was subjected to preclinical and clinical trials. The second phase began with the introduction of nifurtimox and benznidazole into the clinical setting, followed with the search for alternative drugs. In this phase, a dichotomy existed between rational and empirical approaches in preclinical studies. The third phase began with the unravelling of the T. cruzi genome. The development of transgenic parasites has allowed the development of solid HTS protocols, and the establishment of bioluminescent T. cruzi has allowed in vivo drug evaluations using a reduced number of animals. Among the wide variety of compounds subjected to preclinical studies, we have discovered azolic and non-azolic inhibitors of sterol C14α-demethylase (CYP51) and nitro compounds. Two compounds evaluated during the second phase, namely, MK-436 and allopurinol, could be revisited. Clinical studies of posaconazole and E1224 yielded disappointing results, and it is critical to understand the reason for their failure as a monotherapy. Currently, the combination and repositioning of drugs with different mechanisms of action are complementary approaches. The use of drug combinations, particularly those of nitro compounds with CYP51 inhibitors, is considered a real alternative for the treatment of Chagas disease.