title: Emerging corticosteroid agonists for the treatment of asthma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Asthma is one of the most frequent chronic diseases worldwide. For decades, asthma has been treated with bronchodilators and inhaled corticosteroids (ICS). However, adverse effects of ICS and disease heterogeneity necessitate improvements in the existing treatment regimes. Recently approved ICS show improved pharmocodynamic properties. Nevertheless, emerging drugs acting on the same receptor as the ICS, glucocorticoid receptor agonists (GRAs), are under current research. These drugs exhibit selective action on the glucocorticoid receptor (GR), which may improve their adverse effect profile, compared to the currently approved ICS that act unselectively on the GR.
  
  
  METHODS
  The present article reviews emerging GRAs for the treatment of asthma. Furthermore, the more recently approved ICS with improved safety profiles are reviewed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Compared with drugs acting on other pathological pathways, research in GRAs for asthma is sparse. However, a few promising agents acting selectively on the GR are currently under investigation and may reach approval for asthma treatment. These drugs exhibit improved pharmacodynamic properties due to selectivity in the mechanism of action, including promotion of transrepression and reduction of transactivation. However, competition from already approved ICS and other emerging treatment options may lead to cessation of development of the new GRAs.
authors.affiliation: a Bispebjerg University Hospital, Respiratory Research Unit , Copenhagen, Denmark +45 3531 3569 ; +45 3531 2179 ; cgwestergaard@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Christian G
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Westergaard
authors.affiliation: a Bispebjerg University Hospital, Respiratory Research Unit , Copenhagen, Denmark +45 3531 3569 ; +45 3531 2179 ; cgwestergaard@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Celeste
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Porsbjerg
authors.affiliation: a Bispebjerg University Hospital, Respiratory Research Unit , Copenhagen, Denmark +45 3531 3569 ; +45 3531 2179 ; cgwestergaard@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Vibeke
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Backer
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology; D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D001993:Bronchodilator Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015195:Drug Design; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D011965:Receptors, Glucocorticoid / Q000819:agonists*
chemical_list: D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents; D001993:Bronchodilator Agents; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D011965:Receptors, Glucocorticoid
keywords: asthma; asthma treatment; glucocorticoid receptor agonists; inhaled corticosteroids; transactivation; transrepression