Chemical synthesis of compounds for therapeutic use

In this context, we have designed and synthesised several families of molecules with good antimalarial activity. These molecules are often composed of several ‘fragments’, each with its own activity, so as to act simultaneously on several parasite targets (‘hybrid molecules’). This makes it possible to optimise antimalarial activity, particularly against resistant parasites.

Among these compounds, emoquine is the 2025 molecule of the year!ces composés, l’émoquine est la molécule de l’année 2025 !

A publication reporting the synthesis and antimalarial activity of emoquine-1 was published in 2025 in The Journal of Medicinal Chemistry (article).

This hybrid molecule, containing an emodin fragment coupled to a 4-aminoquinoline via a carefully chosen linker, is highly active against multi-resistant Plasmodium falciparum, including artemisinin-resistant Plasmodium falciparum. It is also active at low oral doses in an in vivo model. These characteristics make it an ideal drug candidate for combating malaria that is resistant to current first-line therapies.