Investigational therapeutics targeting the IL-4/IL-13/STAT-6 pathway for the treatment of asthma.
Asthma is a complex, persistent, inflammatory disease characterised by airway hyperresponsiveness in association with airway inflammation. Studies suggest that regular use of high-dose inhaled corticosteroids and long-acting bronchodilators or omalizumab (a humanised monoclonal antibody that binds to immunoglobulin E and is often used as next-step therapy) may not be sufficient to provide asthma control in all patients, highlighting an important unmet need. Interleukin-4, interleukin-13, and the signal transducer and activator of transcription factor-6 are key components in the development of airway inflammation, mucus production, and airway hyperresponsiveness in asthma. Biological compounds targeting these molecules may provide a new therapeutic modality for patients with uncontrolled severe asthma. The purpose of this review is to summarise current studies of compounds targeting the interleukin-4/interleukin-13 pathway and to provide a rationale for the development of such compounds for this use.
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Clinical Development, Respiratory Diseases, Allergy and Inflammation, MedImmune, LLC, Gaithersburg, MD, USA.
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Molfino
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D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D018793:Interleukin-13 / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D050800:STAT6 Transcription Factor / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; C508598:IL4 protein, human; D018793:Interleukin-13; D050800:STAT6 Transcription Factor; C494101:STAT6 protein, human; D015847:Interleukin-4