Abstract
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.
Key words
CAS 75706-12-6 - Dihydroorotate dehydrogenase inhibitors - Disease modifying antirheumatic
drug - Leflunomide - X-ray structure based drug design