title: Small-molecule anti-inflammatory drug compositions for the treatment of asthma: a patent review (2013 - 2014).
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Asthma is a chronic condition affecting 235 million people worldwide, with prevalence continuing to increase. A significant number of patients have poorly controlled asthma but despite this, a new mechanistic class of small-molecule asthma therapy has not emerged over the past 15 years.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this article, the authors review the published patent literature from 2013 to 2014 that describes the discovery of novel small-molecule anti-inflammatory agents for the treatment of asthma. This patent analysis was performed using multiple search engines including SciFinder and Free Patents Online.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This review highlights that significant research is still directed towards the development of novel anti-inflammatory agents for the treatment of asthma. Current standard-of-care therapies are given topically to the lung via an inhaled dose, which the authors believe can offer significant advantages in terms of efficacy and therapeutic index, compared with an oral dose. Several of the patents reviewed disclose preferred compounds and data that suggest an inhaled approach is being specifically pursued. The patents reviewed target a wide range of inflammatory pathways, although none have yet delivered an approved novel medicine for asthma; this gives an indication of both the opportunity and challenge involved in such an endeavor.
authors.affiliation: Sandexis Medicinal Chemistry Ltd , Innovation House, Discovery Park, Ramsgate Road, Sandwich, Kent, CT13 9ND , UK +44 0 1304 892369 ; paul.glossop@sandexis.co.uk.
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Glossop
authors.forename: Gavin
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Whitlock
authors.forename: Karl
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Gibson
mesh_terms: D000280:Administration, Inhalation; D000818:Animals; D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy*; D015195:Drug Design; D006801:Humans; D010330:Patents as Topic
chemical_list: D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents
keywords: anti-inflammatory; asthma; bronchodilation; inflammation; inhaled drugs