Dihydrofolate reductase inhibitors: new developments in antiparasitic chemotherapy

Dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) inhibitors are an important class of therape utic compounds including antiparasitic agents. They are used in the treatme nt and prophylaxis of major infectious diseases, such as malaria, toxoplasm osis and Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia. Research of new DHFR inhibitors co mpounds is largely driven by the search for new anticancer agents as there is little economic interest for private pharmaceutical firms to undertake a ntiparasitic drug discovery activities. This mini-review describes the pate nt literature in the field of relevant human and animal parasites focussing on the period 1997 to 2000.