Updates and News
Major Asthma Research Discovery Could Lead to New Drugs
Findings Licensed to Biotechnology Firm
SAN FRANCISCO, California, March 18, 2009: The American Asthma Foundation announced that a significant research discovery they funded has been licensed by a leading biotech company. This move could lead to potential new drugs for treating asthma by blocking certain cell interactions that produce lung inflammation and constrict airways. The studies leading to these findings were conducted by Michael Croft, Ph.D. at the La Jolla Institute for Allergy & Immunology in La Jolla, California, a non-profit biomedical research institute and international leader in immunology research.
Dean Smith, Executive Director of the American Asthma Foundation, said, “The reality of scientific research is that it often takes several decades for a so-called ‘discovery at the bench’ to become an approved product or treatment. There are many, many steps along the way including understanding the underlying science, translating the science to a new drug or therapy, conducting animal and human studies, and progressing through medical approval processes. We are Michael Croft, Ph.D. excited that Dr. Croft’s research finding has now moved to the next phase where its use in potential new drugs to treat asthma can be further explored.”
Discussing the role of the American Asthma Foundation in improving treatment, preventing, and finding a cure for asthma, Ms. Marion O. Sandler, chairman of the Foundation’s board, points out, “The American Asthma Foundation is the only national advocacy group in the United States devoted solely to asthma. Sad to say, there is no cure for asthma and little progress has been made in 50 years in improving treatment. Dr. Croft’s discovery is very significant, not only because of the great need to develop new treatments for asthma but also because of the long lead time and complexity involved in bringing new therapies to market.”
In 2000, Dr. Croft received a three-year early excellence award from the American Asthma Foundation. He and his team focus on the roles that certain proteins play in the ability of the immune system to guard the body against harmful microorganisms. Dr. Croft’s research demonstrated that use of an antibody to block the interaction of these proteins in experimental animal models can substantially reduce the lung inflammation and airway blockage that are symptomatic of asthma attacks. The licensing of this finding is the next step in developing a drug treatment.
