Leishmania major is an important trypanosomatid pathogen that causes 
leishmaniasis, which is a serious disease in much of the Old World. Current 
treatments include a small number of antimony compounds that, while somewhat 
effective, are limited by serious side effects. We have screened a small portion 
of a unique chemical library and have found at least three novel compounds that 
are effective against L. tarentolae and L. major in vitro and in a murine 
macrophage model of L. major infection. These compounds were effective in both 
assays at doses significantly lower than those of sodium stibogluconate 
(Pentostam) and represent possible candidates for drug development.