Recent advances in the development of promising carbohydrate-based therapeutics

Carbohydrates are ubiquitous biomolecules that play indispensable roles in living systems, functioning in cellular communication, genetic information storage, cellular energy provision, structural support, host-pathogen interactions, and the biosynthesis of secondary metabolites such as antibiotics. Their inherent multifunctionality, stereochemical complexity, and natural affinity for binding specific proteins make them highly attractive scaffolds for drug discovery. Despite their biological significance, carbohydrate-based therapeutics remain underrepresented in the pharmacopoeia, comprising only a small fraction of approved drugs. This underutilization highlights the untapped potential of carbohydrates as sources of novel therapeutic agents with innovative mechanisms of action. In this concise review, the authors summarize the current landscape of approved small-molecule drugs containing carbohydrate moieties and highlight recent advances in carbohydrate-based compounds with a wide spectrum of pharmacological activities, including antimicrobial, anticancer, antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory, neuroprotective, antiviral, and enzyme inhibitory effects. Carbohydrate-based therapeutics are transitioning from niche applications to mainstream drug discovery platforms and, as such, hold significant promise for generating future generations of pharmaceuticals. Consequently, the authors firmly advocate continued efforts in designing carbohydrate-derived drug candidates which are well positioned to deliver first or best-in-class drugs.