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Biotech / Medical : Regeneron Pharmaceuticals -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Miljenko Zuanic who wrote (542)	6/28/2001 11:15:56 AM
From: keokalani'nui	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 3557

>>This study is "the first...to demonstrate the potential clinical efficacy of a TH2 inhibitor for the treatment of asthma," the investigators note.<< Really? Aren't these the same guys? Am J Respir Crit Care Med 1999 Dec;160(6):1816-23 Related Articles, Books, LinkOut Interleukin-4 receptor in moderate atopic asthma. A phase I/II randomized, placebo-controlled trial. Borish LC, Nelson HS, Lanz MJ, Claussen L, Whitmore JB, Agosti JM, Garrison L. Department of Medicine, National Jewish Medical and Research Center, University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, Denver, Colorado 80206, USA. BorishL@NJC.org Interleukin-4 mediates important proinflammatory functions in asthma, including induction of the IgE isotype switch, expression of VCAM-1 on endothelium, mucin production, 15-lipoxygenase activity, and Th2 lymphocyte stimulation leading to the secondary synthesis of IL-4, IL-5, and IL-13. Soluble recombinant human IL-4 receptor (IL-4R; Nuvance; altrakincept) inactivates naturally occurring IL-4 without mediating cellular activation. Nebulized IL-4R has a serum half-life of approximately 1 wk. In this double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, 25 patients with moderate asthma requiring inhaled corticosteroids were randomly assigned to receive a single nebulized dose of IL-4R 1,500 microg, IL-4R 500 microg, or placebo after stopping inhaled corticosteroids. No drug-related toxicity was observed. Treatment with IL-4R produced significant improvement in FEV(1) on Day 4 (1,500 microg versus placebo; p < 0.05) and in FEF(25-75) on Days 2 and 4 (1,500 microg versus placebo; p < 0.05). Asthma symptom scores stabilized among patients treated with IL-4R 1, 500 microg, despite abrupt withdrawal of corticosteroids, but not in the IL-4R 500 microg group or the placebo group (p < 0.05). Patients in the IL-4R 1,500 microg group also required significantly less beta(2)-agonist rescue use (p < 0.05). Anti-inflammatory effects were further demonstrated by significantly reduced exhaled nitric oxide (p < 0.05). Conclusions: A single dose of IL-4R appears safe and effective in moderate asthma. The 1,500 microg dose appears as safe but significantly more effective than the 500 microg dose.