Inosine monophosphate dehydrogenase as a target for antiviral, anticancer, antimicrobial and immunosuppressive therapeutics.

Inosine monophosphate dehydrogenase (IMPDH) catalyzes the rate-limiting step in the de novo biosynthesis of guanine nucleotides. In recent years it has become the target of multiple drugs in an attempt to cure a variety of diseases. Possible therapeutic drugs range from antiviral and anticancer to immunosuppressive targets. Research has shown that if IMPDH is effectively inhibited, cancerous growth can be slowed and virus replication can be stopped. Microbial and parasitic IMPDH differ significantly from the human isoforms and targeting those isoforms could lead to effective treatments for many diseases. Inhibiting IMPDH is an extremely promising therapy for a variety of disease states. Isoform- and species-selective inhibition is desirable and scientists are making significant progress in these areas.