Therapeutics: Interleukin-17A (IL-17A); calcium channel

Patient sample and mouse studies suggest IL-17A inhibitors or calcium channel blockers could help treat bone loss in primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT). In peripheral blood nucleated cells from patients, levels of IL-17A mRNA were three-fold higher than in healthy controls. In a mouse model of PHPT, an anti-IL-17A mAb decreased bone resorption and loss of bone volume and increased bone formation compared with a serotype control mAb. Also in the mouse model, the calcium channel blocker diltiazem decreased the numbers of IL-17A-producing T helper type 17 (Th17) cells, bone marrow levels of IL-17A mRNA and bone loss compared with vehicle. Next steps could include testing an IL-17A mAb or diltiazem in patients with PHPT.

Novartis AG markets Cosentyx secukinumab, a human IgG1 mAb targeting IL-17A, to treat psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis, and has the mAb in Phase III testing to treat ankylosing spondylitis and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and Phase II testing to treat multiple sclerosis (MS)...