Cholinesterase inhibitors: a patent review (2007-2011)

Introduction: Cholinesterase inhibitors participate in the maintenance of the levels of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine by inhibiting the enzymes implicated in its degradation, namely, butyrylcholinesterase and acetylcholinesterase. This pharmacological action has an important role in several diseases, including neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's. Areas covered: This article reviews recent advances in the development of cholinesterase enzyme inhibitors, covering the development of new chemical entities, new pharmaceutical formulations with known inhibitors or treatments in combination with other drug families. Expert opinion: The development of cholinesterase inhibitors has to face several issues, including the fact that the principal indication for these drugs, Alzheimer's disease, is not currently believed to derivate from a cholinergic deficiency, although most of the drugs clinically used for these disease are cholinesterase inhibitors. Moreover, the adverse effects found when administering cholinesterase inhibitors limit their use in other diseases, such as gastrointestinal diseases, glaucoma, or analgesia.