Cruzain inhibitors: efforts made, current leads and a structural outlook of new hits

- SAR and docking studies should be interpreted considering the possibility of aggregation.
- SAR does not necessarily imply a specific binding interaction.
- Neutral molecules are preferable as cysteine protease inhibitors.
- Leads obtained from strategies such as traditional medicinal chemistry or modeling-based inhibitors could benefit with the knowledge accumulated for the development of inhibitors such as odanacatib.