Human dihydroorotate dehydrogenase inhibitors, a novel approach for the treatment of autoimmune and inflammatory diseases.

Dihydroorotate dehydrogenase (DHODH), a novel and recently discovered enzyme, is involved in the biosynthesis of uridine. Leflunomide (CAS 75706-12-6), a drug approved for the treatment of treat rheumatoid arthritis (RA), was identified as an inhibitor of DHODH. Structure based drug design using the leflunomide/DHODH X-ray structure yielded novel inhibitors with improved pharmacological properties. Such drug candidates are in clinical trials against various autoimmune diseases.