BioCentury
ARTICLE | Distillery Therapeutics

New glucocorticoid to treat steroid-resistant asthma

April 2, 2019 9:45 PM UTC

INDICATION: Asthma

In vitro and mouse studies identified a glucocorticoid ligand of GCCR that could help treat steroid-resistant asthma. Optimization of a previously reported synthetic glucocorticoid and in vitro testing in binding assays yielded a compound that bound GCCR with a Ki of 1.2 nM. In a mouse model of steroid-resistant airway inflammation, i.p. injection of the compound decreased inflammatory cell infiltration in the bronchoalveolar lavage and lung compared with vehicle or the inhaled corticosteroid Arnuity Ellipta fluticasone furoate. In mice, the compound had a plasma half-life of 5.3 hours and an oral bioavailability of 17.7%. Next steps by Palo Alto Pharmaceuticals Inc. include preclinical PK/PD, toxicity and safety studies...