Interleuken-4 Receptor for Asthma

[Guest guest]

Here again, from Doctors Guide Online, is good news for asthmatics ...

http://www.pslgroup.com/dg/18bad6.htm

DG DISPATCH - AAAAI: IL-4 Receptor May Prove Effective For Acute Asthma

Attacks

By Susman -- Special to DG News

SAN DIEGO, CA -- March 7, 2000 -- Early studies show encouraging signs that

a soluble interleukin-4 (IL-4) receptor may have promise as a once-a-week

treatment for prevention of asthma attacks.

Researchers say the inhaled IL-4 receptor short circuits the cascade of

molecular events that cause asthma and allergy attacks, and the IL-4

receptor accomplished that task with a naturally-occurring protein, limiting

the side effects.

Dr. Larry Borish, MD, associate professor of medicine at the University of

Virginia Medical Center, and colleagues from the National Jewish Medical and

Research Center, Denver, Colo., reported that the new drug is effective for

five to seven days with just one inhaled dose. At the annual meeting of the

American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology in San Diego, CA, Dr.

Borish said the biotechnology-engineered drug " soaks up " circulating IL-4

like a sponge, preventing asthma and allergy attacks by inhibiting IL-4.

Borish said IL-4 is a vestigial part of the immune system that is no longer

necessary for survival. He said it is believed that IL-4 mounts an attack

against parasites in the body - parasites that no longer infect people in

the US or Western Europe. In some people, IL-4 attacks inappropriate targets

in the lungs and other organs, causing asthma and allergic reactions.

" This study was the first multiple-dose study of IL-4 receptor, " Dr. Borish

said, and was a double-blind, placebo-controlled study evaluating 12 weekly

inhalations (0.75, 1.5, or 3.0 mg) of IL-4 receptor or placebo to 15 to 16

subjects at each dose.

Dr. Borish said that prior to the study, the subjects had documented

dependence on inhaled corticosteroids by an exacerbation in asthma induced

by one or two tapers of the steroids over two-week periods. After being

stabilized at the lowest dose, steroids were discontinued as IL-4 receptor

was introduced.

As expected, Dr. Borish said IL-4 receptor administration was well tolerated

and there were no serious adverse events. Efficacy was demonstrated by a

significant decline in lung function tests (FEV1) from those observed in the

placebo group-an average of a 13 percent decline, compared with a 2.25

percent decline in the 3-mg treatment group. The efficacy of IL-4 receptor

was further confirmed by the lack of increase in asthma symptom scores in

the treatment group as compared to the placebo group at one month.

" A dose response was evident, " Dr. Borish said, with the 3.0 mg dose most

effective. "

Feldman, MD, associate professor of pediatrics at Columbia

University, in New York, said the great promise of the IL-4 receptor is

that, if further studies prove its effectiveness, it should improve patient

compliance. He said the success with the drug could pave the way for other

medications with even longer lasting actions.

Dr. Borish said a larger study of the IL-4 receptor inhibitor, manufactured

by Immunex of Seattle, will be completed soon and will be reported this

summer. He said a pivotal study will begin later.

" We are years - but not decades - away from this drug coming to the

marketplace, " Dr. Borish said.