New anti-eosinophil drugs on the horizon??

[Guest guest]

This article was just announced in an IntelliHealth Allergy news email I

receive:

http://www.intelihealth.com/IH/ihtIH/EMIHC000/333/333/267565.html

Advance In Asthma Research Announced

February 3, 2000

Rockville, land and Glasgow, United Kingdom (Human Genome Sciences)-- A

team of scientists working at Human Genome Sciences, Inc. in Rockville,

land, and the CRC Beatson Institute for Cancer Research, in Glasgow,

Scotland, announced the discovery of a new protein that blocks a key

receptor on a type of cell that induces allergic reactions. The protein is

called Met-Chemokine Beta Seven, or Met-Ckb 7. The discovery of this protein

is described in a paper published in the February 1, 2000 issue of the

Journal of Immunology.

Met-Chemokine Beta Seven interferes with the function of a cell type, called

an eosinophil, that plays a central role in asthma and allergic reactions.

During allergic reactions, eosinophils migrate to the lungs and trigger many

of the symptoms of asthma and allergy. The newly discovered protein blocks

eosinophil migration by binding to a structure on the surface of the cells.

Once blocked, the ability of eosinophils to induce asthma and allergic

symptoms is greatly reduced.

Craig A. Rosen, Ph.D., Executive Vice President, Research and Development,

at Human Genome Sciences, Inc., said, " I believe that working with our

colleagues in Scotland, we have made a significant advance in understanding

how the body naturally controls asthma and allergic reactions. I hope that

our newly found knowledge of the body's own defense will help those who

suffer from these serious diseases. Childhood asthma and allergies in

children and adults are among the fastest growing diseases that affect large

segments of the population worldwide. "

Dr. Gerry Graham, Group Head of Stem Cell Biology at the CRC Beatson

Institute, said, " It is very rewarding that our work for The Cancer Research

Campaign in Scotland, which is aimed at helping cancer patients, might also

benefit asthma patients. "

Dr. Nibbs, Senior Research Fellow at the CRC Beatson Institute, said,

" This is teamwork at its best with scientists working together across

different fields and countries for the common good. "

According to the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases,

asthma affected an estimated 17 million Americans, of whom 4.8 million are

children under the age of 18. Among 5 to 24 year olds, the asthma death rate

nearly doubled from 1980 to 1993. In addition, estimates from a skin test

survey suggest that allergies affect more than 50 million people in the U.S.

The discovery is a result of a collaboration between HGS and the CRC Beatson

Institute for Cancer Research. HGS scientists teamed up with specialists in

chemokine receptor research at the CRC Beatson Institute.

Scientists around the world have long sought a substance to block a

structure on the surface of asthma and allergy-inducing eosinophils. The

structure, called the CCR3 receptor, is also present on other important

cells implicated in allergy, including basophils, mast cells and Th2

lymphocytes. The CCR3 receptor serves to recruit, or localize, these cells

during an allergic process and deliver signals to the cells resulting in

cellular activation.

The discovery and description of a potent inhibitor of the CCR3 receptor --

a protein called Met-Chemokine Beta Seven, or Ckb 7 -- is contained in the

newly published manuscript entitled " CCR3 Antagonism by the b-chemokine

MIP-4, a property strongly enhanced by an amino-terminal alanine-methionine

swap " and is published in the February 1, 2000 issue of the Journal of

Immunology. This paper may be accessed at http://www.jimmunol.org.

HGS is continuing to research this protein and is evaluating possible

avenues of development for a new drug based on the protein. HGS may either

develop the drug in its own facilities or seek partners to share its

development. Before any drug may be sold, it must undergo an extensive

series of pre-clinical tests and clinical tests and be approved by the Food

& Drug Administration (FDA).

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