Simple accessible clemastine fumarate analogues as effective antileishmanials†

Current therapeutic options for leishmaniasis are severely limited, highlighting an urgent need to develop more effective and less toxic drugs to combat a major global public health challenge. Clemastine fumarate displays good levels of antileishmanial efficacy, but further optimisation is challenged by its difficult synthesis. Here, we demonstrate that simple N-linked analogues are easier to access, can exhibit higher selectivity and show comparable efficacy in a mouse model of Leishmania amazonensis infection.