New Therapeutic Targets and Drugs for the Treatment of Asthma

Mini Rev Med Chem. 2018;18(8):684-696. doi: 10.2174/1389557517666170927145011.

Abstract

Asthma is an inflammatory disease which affects millions of people worldwide. Therefore, it is necessary to search for new sources of therapies for the treatment of these patients in order to improve their quality of life. From content analysis of literature of new therapeutic targets, there are various targets and drugs reported to be promising for the treatment of asthma. Interleukins involved in inflammatory processes are often presented as candidate targets for new drugs. The action of such therapeutics would not only affect interleukins, but also their receptors. Small molecules (e.g. ligustrazine and SP600125) and large molecule antibodies (e.g. lebrikizumab, benralizumab, dupilumab) are being considered as novel agents for the pharmacotherapy of asthma. Therefore, through this research, we can see advances in the search for new targets and promising drugs to treat asthma. It is expected that these new drug candidates will eventually be approved and marketed so that asthma patients can use them to enhance their quality of life.

Keywords: Asthma; drugs; monoclonal antibody; natural products; targets; therapeutic targets..

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / immunology
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / therapeutic use*
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized / therapeutic use
  • Asthma / drug therapy*
  • Asthma / pathology
  • Humans
  • Immunoglobulin E / immunology
  • Immunoglobulin E / metabolism
  • Interleukins / immunology
  • Interleukins / metabolism
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors / chemistry
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors / metabolism
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors / therapeutic use
  • p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / antagonists & inhibitors
  • p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / metabolism

Substances

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized
  • Interleukins
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors
  • Immunoglobulin E
  • dupilumab
  • benralizumab
  • p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases
  • lebrikizumab