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Biotech / Medical : Sepracor-Looks very promising -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: rkrw who wrote (4211)	2/16/2000 12:53:00 PM
From: Don Miller	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 10280

Do H-1, H-2 and 5-HTI receptors interference drugs have HIV treatment prospects? A clip from: quicken.com Human Genome Sciences Receives Patent On AIDS Virus Entry Point Wednesday, February 16, 2000 08:05 AM Mail this article to a friend ROCKVILLE, Md., Feb. 16 /PRNewswire/ -- Human Genome Sciences, Inc. (Nasdaq:HGSI, news, msgs) announced today that it was issued a U.S. patent on a human gene that produces what is believed to be the critical entry point for the AIDS virus. The gene, known as the CCR5 receptor gene, gives rise in human cells to a protein that functions as a receptor or docking site for the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Scientists learned some years ago that people who lack a functional CCR5 receptor gene are resistant to infection with HIV. The discovery suggested that drugs that interfere with the receptor might be effective treatment for AIDS and triggered a global race to identify suitable compounds. HGS has provided several of its partners with licenses for the use of the CCR5 receptor gene in drug discovery. ........ The CCR5 receptor is found on the surfaces of cells. It is a member of a broad family of human genes whose protein products, known as G-protein coupled receptors, are targets for drugs. Examples include the histamine H-1 receptor, targeted by the well known drug Claritin for treatment of allergies; the stomach H-2 receptor, targeted by Zantac, Tagamet and Pepcid for acid indigestion and ulcers; and the cerebrovascular 5-HT1 receptor, targeted by Imitrex for treatment of migraine headaches. HGS scientists have discovered more than 66 novel members of this class of receptors. Together with partners, HGS has filed patents describing their importance and medical use. Of these applications, a total of 13 patents have been issued. William A. Haseltine, Ph.D., Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Human Genome Sciences and one of the founders for the American Foundation for AIDS Research (amfAR) commented, "The discovery of the CCR5 receptor gene is another example of the power of the genomics approach to drug discovery. It was one of many genes that we found very early in our discovery program. Experiments confirmed that the CCR5 receptor played a key role in the biology of the immune system and as an AIDS virus receptor."

To: rkrw who wrote (4211)	2/16/2000 2:03:00 PM
From: Biomaven	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 10280

More potent, faster onset and safer. Maybe even more than this. Take a look at the abstracts from apnet.com The following one is particularly interesting. If they can get a "stuffiness" label, it will certainly distinguish them from the other antihistamines: Abstract No.: 1122 Decongestant Effects of Desloratadine in Patients With Seasonal Allergic Rhinitis A Nayak , R Lorber, LM Salmun Peoria School of Medicine, University of Illinois, Peoria, IL Schering-Plough Research Institute, Kenilworth, NJ Subject: 08 Rhinitis Therapy Keywords: 186 rhinitis therapy Nasal congestion/stuffiness is a chronic symptom in patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis (SAR). Currently available antihistamines are not effective in treating nasal congestion/stuffiness. Desloratadine (DL) is a selective histamine H1-receptor antagonist with additional antiallergic and anti-inflammatory effects. Once-a-day dosing relieves nasal and non-nasal signs and symptoms of SAR and improves health-related quality of life. The effects of DL on nasal congestion/stuffiness are described by using data pooled from randomized, parallel-group, double-blind, placebo-controlled studies of DL in patients with SAR. Patients (12-75 years; pooled n=659-662/group) with a 2-year history of SAR and moderate-to-severe symptoms present at the time of enrollment received DL (5 mg or 7.5 mg) or placebo PO once a day for 14 days. The severity (0=none, 1=mild, 2=moderate, 3=severe) of congestion/stuffiness was assessed by patients for the study duration. The 14-day average change in symptom severity score from baseline was assessed. The mean symptom severity score for nasal congestion/stuffiness was 2.4 in each treatment group at baseline, indicating patients had moderate-to-severe nasal congestion before receiving treatment. DL significantly decreased nasal congestion/stuffiness (P=0.02 and 0.01 for 5 mg and 7.5 mg, respectively, of DL vs placebo) as well as total symptom severity. These data indicate that desloratadine, unlike what is generally observed in other anithistamines, has the added benefit of providing significant relief from allergic symptoms such as nasal congestion/stuffiness in patients with SAR. BTW, there are also 2 levalbuterol abstracts, neither particularly remarkable. Peter