INTRODUCTIONOxadiazole is a unique class of heterocycle, possessing numerous important biomedical and therapeutic applications, such as anti-bacterial, anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, inhibitors for diverse enzymes, receptor modulators, and neuroprotective properties. The rapid development in the field of oxadiazole-containing structures is confirmed by the development of numerous clinical drugs, such as doxazosin, nesapidil, pleconaril, fasiplon, ataluren, zibotentan, and prenoxdiazine as selected examples.AREAS COVEREDThis review provides a comprehensive overview of the range of biological applications of oxadiazole-containing drugs in a range of patents from 2013 to 2021. The information was collected from available data sources including SciFinder, Reaxys, MedLine, and Chemical Abstracts.EXPERT OPINIONOxadiazole is an established class of compounds with fascinating biological properties. The importance of oxadiazoles can be recognized by their enormous application in a wide spectrum of medicinal chemistry from anticancer, lantibiotics, and antidiabetics to their use in agriculture and neuroprotection. For instance, the oxadiazole-based compounds have shown the ability to modulate a variety of receptors including the M4 receptor agonists, S1P1 receptor modulators, SSTR5 antagonists, orexin type-2 receptor agonists, liver X receptor agonists, and many more. This testifies to the special features associated with the oxadiazole scaffold, making it a significant pharmacophore.
