New drugs for asthma.
Several new drugs are now under development for the treatment of asthma, either as improvements to existing classes of therapy or as novel agents. Amongst bronchodilators, long-acting inhaled beta 2-agonists (salmeterol and formoterol) look very promising and there is also interest in selective phosphodiesterase inhibitors, K+ channel-openers and nitrodilators. There are several new inhaled corticosteroids under development and more selective agents include leukotriene antagonists, 5-lipoxygenase inhibitors, bradykinin and tachykinin antagonists and immunomodulators. In the future, adhesion molecule inhibitors and cytokine inhibitors may be developed.
Dept of Thoracic Medicine, National Heart and Lung Institute, London, UK.
P J
PJ
Barnes
D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000318:Adrenergic beta-Agonists / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy*; D001993:Bronchodilator Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers / Q000494:pharmacology; D000242:Cyclic AMP; D016207:Cytokines / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D006801:Humans; D009130:Muscle, Smooth / Q000187:drug effects; D009479:Neuropeptides / Q000378:metabolism; D015221:Potassium Channels / Q000187:drug effects; D012123:Pulmonary Ventilation / Q000187:drug effects; D013806:Theophylline / Q000494:pharmacology
D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D000318:Adrenergic beta-Agonists; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D001993:Bronchodilator Agents; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers; D016207:Cytokines; D009479:Neuropeptides; D015221:Potassium Channels; D013806:Theophylline; D000242:Cyclic AMP