Multitarget drugs: Focus on the NO-donor hybrid drugs

Gasco, Alberto; Boschi, Donatella; Chegaev, Konstantin; Cena, Clara; Di Stilo, Antonella; Fruttero, Roberta; Lazzarato, Loretta; Rolando, Barbara; Tosco, Paolo

doi:10.1351/pac200880081693

Pure Appl. Chem., 2008, Vol. 80, No. 8, pp. 1693-1701

http://dx.doi.org/10.1351/pac200880081693

Multitarget drugs: Focus on the NO-donor hybrid drugs

Alberto Gasco, Donatella Boschi, Konstantin Chegaev, Clara Cena, Antonella Di Stilo, Roberta Fruttero, Loretta Lazzarato, Barbara Rolando and Paolo Tosco

Department of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, University of Turin,via P. Giuria 9, I-10125 Turin, Italy

Abstract: The article addresses the design of multitarget drugs, namely, compounds capable of interacting with more than one target simultaneously. These agents could be useful tools in the therapy of complex diseases such as cardiovascular and inflammatory diseases. An interesting case of multitarget compounds are nitric oxide (NO)-donor hybrids, structures which combine the physiological properties of NO with those of a lead drug. In particular, the authors discuss the symbiotic approach used to design NO-donor nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NO-NSAIDs) and NO-donor antioxidants. The former could be useful agents in the treatment of anti-inflammatory diseases being devoid of gastro- and cardiotoxicity, the latter could be a valid approach to the treatment of many cardiovascular diseases.