Lipoic acid, a lead structure for multi-target-directed drugs for neurodegeneration.

Nowadays, drug discovery based on a single-target-directed strategy seems inappropriate for the treatment of complex diseases that have multiple pathogenic factors. Recent research into new drugs, which are able to hit different targets, highlights the idea that a single molecule could be sufficient to treat multi-factorial diseases. In this review, examples of multi-target-directed compounds derived from lipoic acid are examined.