30 Years of Kinase Inhibitors: A Historical Overview and some Brazilian Contributions

Abstract

The past 30 years have been transformative in the landscape of drug discovery, and certainly one of the most ground-breaking areas was kinase research. Since its start in the mid-1990s, kinase studies have reached notable hallmarks, ranging from the development of the first inhibitor, to innovative treatment options for a range of diseases. Today, kinases remain a pivotal protein class in drug discovery. Contemporarily, the Brazilian medicinal chemistry scene has also evolved, and followed up to such trends in the global landscape of research. Notably, the creation of the Summer School of Pharmaceutical and Medicinal Chemistry (EVQFM, in portuguese) in 1995, and its subsequent 30 consecutive editions, has raised the interest and knowledge of multiple generations in Brazil. This review aims to briefly outline the history of kinase inhibitor research, some of its landmarks, and highlight some of the contributions of Brazilian researchers to this important field of medicinal chemistry.