Jonathan D Greenzaid, Lina J Chan, Brittany M Chandani, Nicholas R Kiritsis, Steven R Feldman
{"title":"Microbiome modulators for atopic eczema: a systematic review of experimental and investigational therapeutics.","authors":"Jonathan D Greenzaid, Lina J Chan, Brittany M Chandani, Nicholas R Kiritsis, Steven R Feldman","doi":"10.1080/13543784.2024.2326625","DOIUrl":"10.1080/13543784.2024.2326625","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a common inflammatory cutaneous disease that arises due to dysregulation of the Th2 immune response, impaired skin barrier integrity, and dysbiosis of the skin and gut microbiota. An abundance of <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> biofilms in AD lesions increases the Th2 immune response, and gut bacteria release breakdown products such as Short Chain Fatty Acids that regulate the systemic immune response.</p><p><strong>Areas covered: </strong>We aim to evaluate therapies that modulate the microbiome in humans and discuss the clinical implications of these treatments. We performed a review of the literature in which 2,673 records were screened, and describe the findings of 108 studies that were included after full-text review. All included studies discussed the effects of therapies on the human microbiome and AD severity. Oral probiotics, topical probiotics, biologics, and investigational therapies were included in our analysis.</p><p><strong>Expert opinion: </strong>Oral probiotics demonstrate mixed efficacy at relieving AD symptoms. Topical probiotics reduce S. aureus abundance in AD lesional skin, yet for moderate-severe disease, these therapies may not reduce AD severity scores to the standard of biologics. Dupilumab and tralokinumab target key inflammatory pathways in AD and modulate the skin microbiome, further improving disease severity.</p>","PeriodicalId":12313,"journal":{"name":"Expert opinion on investigational drugs","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2024-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140039073","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Stamatios Katsimperis, Konstantinos Kapriniotis, Ioannis Manolitsis, Themistoklis Bellos, Panagiotis Angelopoulos, Patrick Juliebø-Jones, Bhaskar Somani, Andreas Skolarikos, Lazaros Tzelves
{"title":"Early investigational agents for the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia'.","authors":"Stamatios Katsimperis, Konstantinos Kapriniotis, Ioannis Manolitsis, Themistoklis Bellos, Panagiotis Angelopoulos, Patrick Juliebø-Jones, Bhaskar Somani, Andreas Skolarikos, Lazaros Tzelves","doi":"10.1080/13543784.2024.2326023","DOIUrl":"10.1080/13543784.2024.2326023","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), as a clinical entity that affects many people, has always been in the forefront of interest among researchers, pharmaceutical companies, and physicians. Patients with BPH exhibit a diverse range of symptoms, while current treatment options can occasionally cause adverse events. All the aforementioned have led to an increased demand for more effective treatment options.</p><p><strong>Areas covered: </strong>This review summarizes the outcomes of new medications used in a pre-clinical and clinical setting for the management of male lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS)/BPH and provides information about ongoing trials and future directions in the management of this condition. More specifically, sheds light upon drug categories, such as reductase‑adrenoceptor antagonists, drugs interfering with the nitric oxide (NO)/cyclic guanosine monophosphate (GMP) signaling pathway, onabotulinumtoxinA, vitamin D3 (calcitriol) analogues, selective cannabinoid (CB) receptor agonists, talaporfin sodium, inhibitor of transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-β1), drugs targeting the hormonal control of the prostate, phytotherapy, and many more.</p><p><strong>Expert opinion: </strong>Clinical trials are being conducted on a number of new medications that may emerge as effective therapeutic alternatives in the coming years.</p>","PeriodicalId":12313,"journal":{"name":"Expert opinion on investigational drugs","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":6.1,"publicationDate":"2024-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139989714","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Claudio M Ciampi, Andrea Sultana, Paolo Ossola, Andrea Farina, Gabriele Fragasso, Roberto Spoladore
{"title":"Current experimental and early investigational agents for cardiac fibrosis: where are we at?","authors":"Claudio M Ciampi, Andrea Sultana, Paolo Ossola, Andrea Farina, Gabriele Fragasso, Roberto Spoladore","doi":"10.1080/13543784.2024.2326024","DOIUrl":"10.1080/13543784.2024.2326024","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Myocardial fibrosis (MF) is induced by factors activating pro-fibrotic pathways such as acute and prolonged inflammation, myocardial ischemic events, hypertension, aging process, and genetically-linked cardiomyopathies. Dynamics and characteristics of myocardial fibrosis development are very different. The broad range of myocardial fibrosis presentations suggests the presence of multiple potential targets.</p><p><strong>Area covered: </strong>Heart failure treatment involves medications primarily aimed at counteracting neurohormonal activation. While these drugs have demonstrated efficacy against MF, not all specifically target inflammation or fibrosis progression with some exceptions such as RAAS inhibitors. Consequently, new therapies are being developed to address this issue. This article is aimed to describe anti-fibrotic drugs currently employed in clinical practice and emerging agents that target specific pathways, supported by evidence from both preclinical and clinical studies.</p><p><strong>Expert opinion: </strong>Despite various preclinical findings suggesting the potential utility of new drugs and molecules for treating cardiac fibrosis in animal models, there is a notable scarcity of clinical trials investigating these effects. However, the pathology of damage and repair in the heart muscle involves a complex network of interconnected inflammatory pathways and various types of immune cells. Our comprehension of the positive and negative roles played by specific immune cells and cytokines is an emerging area of research.</p>","PeriodicalId":12313,"journal":{"name":"Expert opinion on investigational drugs","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":6.1,"publicationDate":"2024-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139996030","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Antibacterial agents active against Gram Negative Bacilli in phase I, II, or III clinical trials.","authors":"David L Paterson","doi":"10.1080/13543784.2024.2326028","DOIUrl":"10.1080/13543784.2024.2326028","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Antimicrobial resistance is a major threat to modern healthcare, and it is often regarded that the antibiotic pipeline is 'dry.'</p><p><strong>Areas covered: </strong>Antimicrobial agents active against Gram negative bacilli in Phase I, II, or III clinical trials were reviewed.</p><p><strong>Expert opinion: </strong>Nearly 50 antimicrobial agents (28 small molecules and 21 non-traditional antimicrobial agents) active against Gram-negative bacilli are currently in clinical trials. These have the potential to provide substantial improvements to the antimicrobial armamentarium, although it is known that 'leakage' from the pipeline occurs due to findings of toxicity during clinical trials. Significantly, a lack of funding for large phase III clinical trials is likely to prevent trials occurring for the indications most relevant to loss of life attributed to antimicrobial resistance such as ventilator-associated pneumonia. Non-traditional antimicrobial agents face issues in clinical development such as a lack of readily available and reliable susceptibility tests, and the potential need for superiority trials rather than non-inferiority trials. Most importantly, concrete plans must be made during clinical development for access of new antimicrobial agents to areas of the world where resistance to Gram negative bacilli is most frequent.</p>","PeriodicalId":12313,"journal":{"name":"Expert opinion on investigational drugs","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":6.1,"publicationDate":"2024-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140039072","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Lessons learned from early-stage clinical trials for diabetic nephropathy.","authors":"Marc Rendell","doi":"10.1080/13543784.2024.2326025","DOIUrl":"10.1080/13543784.2024.2326025","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>The evolution of treatment for diabetic nephropathy illustrates how basic biochemistry and physiology have led to new agents such as SGLT2 inhibitors and mineralocorticoid blockers. Conversely, clinical studies performed with these agents have suggested new concepts for investigational drug development. We reviewed currently available treatments for diabetic nephropathy and then analyzed early clinical trials of new agents to assess the potential for future treatment modalities.</p><p><strong>Areas covered: </strong>We searched ClinicalTrials.gov for new agents under study for diabetic nephropathy in the past decade. Once we have identified investigation trials of new agents, we then used search engines and Pubmed.gov to find publications providing insight on these drugs. Current treatments have shown benefit in both cardiac and renal disease. In our review, we found 51 trials and 43 pharmaceuticals in a number of drug classes: mineralocorticoid blockers, anti-inflammatory, anti-fibrosis, nitric oxide stimulatory, and podocyte protection, and endothelin inhibitors.</p><p><strong>Expert opinion: </strong>It is difficult to predict which early phase treatments will advance to confirmatory clinical trials. Current agents are thought to improve hemodynamic function. However, the coincident benefit of both myocardial function and the glomerulus argues for primary effects at the subcellular level, and we follow the evolution of agents which modify fundamental cellular processes.</p>","PeriodicalId":12313,"journal":{"name":"Expert opinion on investigational drugs","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":6.1,"publicationDate":"2024-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140093717","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Duchenne muscular dystrophy: promising early-stage clinical trials to watch.","authors":"Annie Tang, Toshifumi Yokota","doi":"10.1080/13543784.2024.2313105","DOIUrl":"10.1080/13543784.2024.2313105","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Current therapies are unable to cure Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), a severe and common form of muscular dystrophy, and instead aim to delay disease progression. Several treatments currently in phase I trials could increase the number of therapeutic options available to patients.</p><p><strong>Areas covered: </strong>This review aims to provide an overview of current treatments undergoing or having recently undergone early-stage trials. Several exon-skipping and gene therapy approaches are currently being investigated at the clinical stage to address an unmet need for DMD treatments. This article also covers Phase I trials from the last 5 years that involve inhibitors, small molecules, a purified synthetic flavanol, a cell-based therapy, and repurposed cardiac or tumor medications.</p><p><strong>Expert opinion: </strong>With antisense oligonucleotide (AON) treatments making up the majority of conditionally approved DMD therapies, most of the clinical trials occurring within the last 5 years have also evaluated exon-skipping AONs. The approval of Elevidys, a micro-dystrophin therapy, is reflected in a recent trend toward gene transfer therapies in phase I DMD clinical trials, but their safety and efficacy are being established in this phase of development. Other Phase I clinical-stage approaches are diverse, but have a range in efficacy, safety, and endpoint measures.</p>","PeriodicalId":12313,"journal":{"name":"Expert opinion on investigational drugs","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":6.1,"publicationDate":"2024-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139641981","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Rafael Rosell, Carlos Pedraz-Valdunciel, Anisha Jain, Chandan Shivamallu, Andrés Aguilar
{"title":"Deterministic reprogramming and signaling activation following targeted therapy in non-small cell lung cancer driven by mutations or oncogenic fusions.","authors":"Rafael Rosell, Carlos Pedraz-Valdunciel, Anisha Jain, Chandan Shivamallu, Andrés Aguilar","doi":"10.1080/13543784.2024.2320710","DOIUrl":"10.1080/13543784.2024.2320710","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Targeted therapy is used to treat lung adenocarcinoma caused by epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutations in the tyrosine kinase domain and rare subtypes (<5%) of non-small cell lung cancer. These subtypes include fusion oncoproteins like anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK), ROS1, rearranged during transfection (RET), and other receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs). The use of diverse selective oral inhibitors, including those targeting rat sarcoma viral oncogene homolog (KRAS) mutations, has significantly improved clinical responses, extending progression-free and overall survival.</p><p><strong>Areas covered: </strong>Resistance remains a critical issue in lung adenocarcinoma, notably in EGFR mutant, echinoderm microtubule associated protein-like 4 (EML4)-ALK fusion, and KRAS mutant tumors, often associated with epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT).</p><p><strong>Expert opinion: </strong>Despite advancements in next generation EGFR inhibitors and EML4-ALK therapies with enhanced brain penetrance and identifying resistance mutations, overcoming resistance has not been abated. Various strategies are being explored to overcome this issue to achieve prolonged cancer remission and delay resistance. Targeting yes-associated protein (YAP) and the mechanisms associated with YAP activation through Hippo-dependent or independent pathways, is desirable. Additionally, the exploration of liquid-liquid phase separation in fusion oncoproteins forming condensates in the cytoplasm for oncogenic signaling is a promising field for the development of new treatments.</p>","PeriodicalId":12313,"journal":{"name":"Expert opinion on investigational drugs","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":6.1,"publicationDate":"2024-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139899611","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Carlo María Cicala, Iván Olivares-Rivas, Jon Ander Aguirre-Carrillo, César Serrano
{"title":"KIT/PDGFRA inhibitors for the treatment of gastrointestinal stromal tumors: getting to the gist of the problem.","authors":"Carlo María Cicala, Iván Olivares-Rivas, Jon Ander Aguirre-Carrillo, César Serrano","doi":"10.1080/13543784.2024.2318317","DOIUrl":"10.1080/13543784.2024.2318317","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Approximately 90% of gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) are driven by activating mutations in receptor tyrosine-kinases KIT or PDGFRA. Despite the outstanding results of first-line imatinib in advanced GIST, resistance ultimately occurs mainly through secondary mutations in KIT/PDGFRA. Other tyrosine-kinase inhibitors (TKIs) with a broader spectrum of activity against these mutations are approved after imatinib failure. However, response rates and progression-free survival are drastically lower compared to imatinib. Notably, imatinib also triggers early tolerance adaptation mechanisms, which precede the occurrence of secondary mutations.</p><p><strong>Areas covered: </strong>In this review, we outline the current landscape of KIT inhibitors, discuss the novel agents, and present additional biological pathways that may be therapeutically exploitable.</p><p><strong>Expert opinion: </strong>The development of broad-spectrum and highly selective TKIs able to induce a sustained KIT/PDGFRA inhibition is the pillar of preclinical and clinical investigation in GIST. However, it is now recognized that the situation is more intricate, with various factors interacting with KIT and PDGFRA, playing a crucial role in the response and resistance to treatments. Future strategies in the management of advanced GIST should integrate driver inhibition with the blockade of other molecules to enhance cell death and establish enduring responses in patients.</p>","PeriodicalId":12313,"journal":{"name":"Expert opinion on investigational drugs","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":6.1,"publicationDate":"2024-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139722247","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Deanne H Hryciw, Rhiannon K Patten, Raymond J Rodgers, Joseph Proietto, Dana S Hutchinson, Andrew J McAinch
{"title":"GPR119 agonists for type 2 diabetes: past failures and future hopes for preclinical and early phase candidates.","authors":"Deanne H Hryciw, Rhiannon K Patten, Raymond J Rodgers, Joseph Proietto, Dana S Hutchinson, Andrew J McAinch","doi":"10.1080/13543784.2024.2321271","DOIUrl":"10.1080/13543784.2024.2321271","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is metabolic disorder associated with a decrease in insulin activity and/or secretion from the β-cells of the pancreas, leading to elevated circulating glucose. Current management practices for T2D are complex with varying long-term effectiveness. Agonism of the G protein-coupled receptor GPR119 has received a lot of recent interest as a potential T2D therapeutic.</p><p><strong>Areas covered: </strong>This article reviews studies focused on GPR119 agonism in animal models of T2D and in patients with T2D.</p><p><strong>Expert opinion: </strong>GPR119 agonists <i>in vitro</i> and <i>in vivo</i> can potentially regulate incretin hormone release from the gut, then pancreatic insulin release which regulates blood glucose concentrations. However, the success in controlling glucose homeostasis in rodent models of T2D and obesity, failed to translate to early-stage clinical trials in patients with T2D. However, in more recent studies, acute and chronic dosing with the GPR119 agonist DS-8500a had increased efficacy, although this compound was discontinued for further development. New trials on GPR119 agonists are needed, however it may be that the future of GPR119 agonists lie in the development of combination therapy with other T2D therapeutics.</p>","PeriodicalId":12313,"journal":{"name":"Expert opinion on investigational drugs","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":6.1,"publicationDate":"2024-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139899612","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Shilan Mozaffari, Shekoufeh Nikfar, Mohammad Abdollahi
{"title":"Drugs of the future for diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome: an overview of current investigational drugs.","authors":"Shilan Mozaffari, Shekoufeh Nikfar, Mohammad Abdollahi","doi":"10.1080/13543784.2024.2320703","DOIUrl":"10.1080/13543784.2024.2320703","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) has a significant impact on society and quality of life. Current treatments are ineffective, and new investigational drugs are necessary.</p><p><strong>Areas covered: </strong>Numerous potential therapies are developing, targeting different areas such as cannabinoid signaling, opioid receptors, tachykinin (NK2) receptors, β3-adrenergic receptors, intestinal microbiota, inflammation, and 5HT receptors. Clinical trial evidence has shown that loperamide, eluxadoline, alosetron, ramosetron, bile acid sequestrants, and rifaximin can modulate GI alterations and benefit patients with IBS-D. Among the potential therapies, ibodutant, ibudilast, blautix, BOS-589, solabegron, vibegron, olorinab, ebastine, and ORP-101 have demonstrated possible effects but remain confirmed.</p><p><strong>Expert opinion: </strong>Individuals with IBS-D require cost-effective treatment options that do not impede their productivity or that of their caregivers. This is necessary for consistent healthcare and improved quality of life. Therefore, we should focus on developing new, efficient, and affordable medications for IBS-D. The government, insurers, and society must recognize this need and collaborate to ensure its fulfillment.</p>","PeriodicalId":12313,"journal":{"name":"Expert opinion on investigational drugs","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":6.1,"publicationDate":"2024-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139746545","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}