title: Anti-IgE and other new immunomodulation-based therapies for allergic asthma.
abstract: Understanding of the cellular and molecular mechanisms in asthma has lead to the recognition of a number of potential therapeutic targets, a few of which have been evaluated in clinical studies. Parenteral administrations of both anti-IL-5 and IL-12 inhibit eosinophil recruitment to the airways, but display a lack of clinical efficacy. Interrupting the IL-4 pathway thus far has also shown disappointing results in clinical studies. Omalizumab is the first anti-IgE monoclonal antibody developed for the treatment of moderate to severe asthmatics to receive FDA approval. In a number of clinical trials treatment with omalizumab was associated with moderate improvements in a number of relevant endpoints, including the rate of occurrence of disease exacerbations. Newer DNA-based therapeutic strategies including DNA vaccination and the antisense oligonucleotides show promise but thus far have only been tested in animal models.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pulmonology, Academic Medical Centre, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. r.e.jonkers@amc.uva.nl
authors.forename: R E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Jonkers
authors.forename: J S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: van der Zee
mesh_terms: D018926:Anti-Allergic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000888:Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic / Q000276:immunology / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems; D006801:Humans; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000276:immunology*; D007263:Infusions, Parenteral; D018664:Interleukin-12 / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000069444:Omalizumab; D018123:Receptors, Interleukin / Q000187:drug effects; D019948:Receptors, Interleukin-4 / Q000187:drug effects; D053649:Receptors, Interleukin-5
chemical_list: D018926:Anti-Allergic Agents; D000888:Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D018123:Receptors, Interleukin; D019948:Receptors, Interleukin-4; D053649:Receptors, Interleukin-5; C026408:anti-IgE antibodies; D018664:Interleukin-12; D000069444:Omalizumab; D007073:Immunoglobulin E