Given its essential functions, the apicoplast has been studied extensively as a potential drug target. Several antimalarial drugs, such as doxycycline and clindamycin, target the apicoplast's protein synthesis machinery. These drugs can inhibit the replication of the parasite by disrupting the function of the apicoplast. Additionally, new drugs are being developed to target other pathways within the apicoplast, such as those involved in fatty acid biosynthesis and isoprenoid biosynthesis.
