Unsymmetrical bisquinolines with high potency against P. falciparum Malaria

Abstract

Quinoline-based scaffolds have been the mainstay of antimalarial drugs, including many artemisinin combination therapies (ACTs), over the history ofmoderndrugdevelopment. Althoughmuch progress has beenmade in the search for novel antimalarial scaffolds, itmay be that quinolineswill remain useful, especially if very potent compounds fromthis class are discovered. We report here the results of a structure-activity relationship(SAR) study assessingpotentialunsymmetrical bisquinoline antiplasmodial drug candidates using in vitro activity against intact parasites in cell culture. Many unsymmetrical bisquinolineswere found to be highly potent against both chloroquine-sensitive and chloroquine-resistant Plasmodium falciparum parasites. Further work to develop such compounds could focus on minimizing toxicities in order to find suitable candidates for clinical evaluation.