Pitrakinra for asthma

Abstract

Importance of the field: In asthma IL-4 and IL-13 have been demonstrated to play major pathogenic roles and therefore their blockade would potentially represent a plausible therapeutic approach.

Areas covered in this review: Pitrakinra is a dual IL-4/IL-13 inhibitor currently under development for asthma and the existing preclinical and clinical data are discussed.

What the reader will gain: Inhaled pitrakinra demonstrated a good anti-inflammatory potential and a good safety profile on a short-term basis but its place in asthma therapy is still to be found.

Take home message: Specific anticytokine therapies might in the near future reshape asthma therapy.

Keywords::

• asthma
• efficacy
• IL-13
• IL-4
• IL-4Rα
• pitrakinra
• safety