Organometallic compounds in drug discovery: Past, present and future.

In this review, we present an overview of some of the medicinally-relevant organometallic drugs that have been used in the past or that are currently in clinical trials as well as an example of compounds that are currently in the initial stage of drug development. Three main classes of organometallic complexes have been chosen for discussion: antimicrobial organoarsenicals, antimalarial and anticancer ferrocene-containing compounds and anticancer catalytic organometallic complexes. The purpose of this review is to provide readers with a focus on the significant progress that has been made for each of these respective fields of medicine.