Isis Pharmaceuticals Enters First Asthma Drug Into Development

Isis Pharmaceuticals has initiated development activities on its first drug for the treatment of asthma and related pulmonary diseases.

The drug, 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, that regulate inflammation, mucus overproduction and airway hyperresponsiveness.