Isis’ first asthma drug enters development

ISIS 369645 is a second-generation antisense inhibitor of the alpha subunit of the interleukin 4 receptor, IL4R-alpha. Inhibiting the production of the IL4R-alpha inhibits the activity of two important cytokines in asthma, IL4 and IL13, which regulate inflammation, mucus overproduction and airway hyperresponsiveness.

“We are very excited about taking our first inhaled antisense drug into clinical trials. ISIS 369645 is the first drug from our relatively new lung-directed inflammation program to enter development and shows how rapidly antisense technology enables the screening, validation and prioritization of gene targets and preclinical profiling of potential drug candidates,” said Dr Frank Bennett, Isis’ vice president of antisense research for Isis.

“Inhaled antisense has the potential to provide highly specific, potent and effective therapies for the treatment of asthma and other chronic pulmonary inflammatory diseases with the convenience of weekly administration,” he continued.