BioCentury
ARTICLE | Regulation

Making a better PDE-4 inhibitor

September 8, 2003 7:00 AM UTC

Choking on Ariflo

The rationale for targeting phosphodiesterase-4 (PDE-4) in chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD) is straightforward: it reduces inflammatory cell activity. But companies have had limited success in developing inhibitors of the enzyme, as underlined by last week's failure of Ariflo cilomilast from GlaxoSmithKline plc to win the endorsement of an FDA advisory panel. ...