BioCentury
ARTICLE | Cover Story

Immune dampening at the source

April 28, 2011 7:00 AM UTC

Two U.S. academic groups have separately identified small molecule RAR-related orphan receptor inhibitors that block production of proinflammatory T helper type 17 cells and decrease disease severity in a mouse model of multiple sclerosis.1,2 The researchers believe targeting T helper type 17 cells may provide increased efficacy over blocking only one cytokine produced by the cells, such as IL-17. Independently, Merck & Co. Inc. and Lycera Corp. announced a partnership last month to co-develop inhibitors for one of these receptors in autoimmune disease.

T helper type 17 (Th17) cells, which are part of the immune response to pathogens, have been previously linked with the development of autoimmune diseases,3 and targeting IL-17 (IL-17A), the major cytokine produced by Th17 cells, has been identified as a strategy for treating autoimmunity. Indeed, there are at least three disclosed antibody and small molecule inhibitors of IL-17 in Phase II testing...