CC chemokine receptor small molecule antagonists in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis and other diseases: a current view.
CC chemokines and their receptors play a key role in mediating both physiological and pathological processes. Chemokine receptors have been widely recognized as attractive drug targets by the pharmaceutical industry. A number of small molecule chemokine receptor antagonists have been developed for different disease indications, including rheumatoid arthritis (RA). This article describes the pharmacological evidence to support the therapeutic potential of targeting chemokine receptors, and highlights some of the recent progress in the field of developing small molecule antagonists for CC chemokine receptors aiming for RA and other disease applications. Furthermore, with the unsatisfactory clinical success so far, potential solutions leading to better success rates are also discussed.
Merck Research Laboratory, 126 East Lincoln Avenue, Rahway, NJ 07065, USA. jinqi_liu@merck. com
Jinqi
J
Liu
J Robert
JR
Merritt
D000818:Animals; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008968:Molecular Conformation; D008970:Molecular Weight; D054388:Receptors, CCR / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D013237:Stereoisomerism
D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D054388:Receptors, CCR