Novel anti-inflammatory treatments for asthma

Abstract

Inhaled corticosteroids do not suppress inflammation or control symptoms in all asthmatics. In particular, corticosteroid insensitivity exists in many patients and may potentially be reversible. There is a need to develop new anti-inflammatory therapies for this disease. This article critically reviews clinical trial data of novel anti-inflammatory drugs in asthma, encompassing specific anti-eosinophil therapies, including antisense chemokine receptor antagonists, anti-cytokine monoclonal antibodies and small-molecule approaches. We provide an insight into the possible future of asthma therapy by identifying drugs with the most promising therapeutic profile.

Keywords::

• anti-inflammatory
• antisense oligonucleotide
• asthma
• cytokine
• eosinophil
• monoclonal antibody
• novel therapeutics
• phosphodiesterase inhibitor

Financial & competing interests disclosure

D Singh has recieved lecture fees, research grants, consultancy fees and support conference attendance from various pharmaceutical companies including AstraZeneca, GlaxoSmithKline, Boehringer Ingleheim and Roche. He has also recieved US$300,000 unrestricted research grant from GlaxoSmithKline over the last 3 years. The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.