Chronicles in drug discovery.
Chronicles in Drug Discovery features special interest reports on advances in drug discovery. This month we highlight agents that target and deplete immunosuppressive regulatory T cells, which are produced by tumor cells to hinder innate immunity against, or chemotherapies targeting, tumor-associated antigens. Antiviral treatments for respiratory syncytial virus, a severe and prevalent infection in children, are limited due to their side effect profiles and cost. New strategies currently under clinical development include monoclonal antibodies, siRNAs, vaccines and oral small molecule inhibitors. Recent therapeutic lines for Huntington's disease include gene therapies that target the mutated human huntingtin gene or deliver neuroprotective growth factors and cellular transplantation in apoptotic regions of the brain. Finally, we highlight the antiinflammatory and antinociceptive properties of new compounds targeting the somatostatin receptor subtype sst4, which warrant further study for their potential application as clinical analgesics.
Davies
Shelley L
SL
Prous Science, Barcelona, Spain. journals@prous.com
Moral
Maria Angels
MA
Bozzo
Jordi
J
D000700:Analgesics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000818:Animals; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D055808:Drug Discovery; D015316:Genetic Therapy / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D006816:Huntington Disease / Q000235:genetics / Q000628:therapy; D007167:Immunotherapy / Q000379:methods; D058990:Molecular Targeted Therapy; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology; D017481:Receptors, Somatostatin / Q000819:agonists; D018357:Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000821:virology; D012136:Respiratory Syncytial Viruses / Q000187:drug effects / Q000472:pathogenicity; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology
D000700:Analgesics; D000998:Antiviral Agents; D017481:Receptors, Somatostatin; C098681:somatostatin receptor subtype-4