GSK-3 inhibitors: discoveries and developments.

Glycogen synthase kinase 3 (GSK-3) in the 21(st) century emerged as one of the most attractive therapeutic target for the development of selective inhibitors as new promising drugs for unmet pathologies including Alzheimer's disease, stroke, bipolar disorders, chronic inflammatory processes, cancer and diabetes type II. The full potential of GSK-3 inhibitors is just starting to be realized but the number of candidates in development provided by both academic centres and pharmaceutical companies have increased exponentially in the last two years. This review discloses recent discoveries and developments on peptides and small molecules targeting GSK-3. Focusing attention on this exciting target could thus reap considerable clinical and economic rewards.