Fresh funding gives hope to new generation of asthma and allergy drugs

Scientists at The University of Manchester and St George's, University of London, have received an additional Seeding Drug Discovery award of £390,000 from the Wellcome Trust to explore a new class of experimental drugs that block the trigger of allergic reactions before symptoms arise. The team is developing a series of drugs based on novel chemical compounds known as Allergen Delivery Inhibitors (ADIs). Unlike existing medicines, these compounds target the substances that can trigger allergies and asthma attacks directly. This means that they have the potential to provide relief to people already suffering with allergies, as well as reducing the risk of minor allergies escalating into more serious conditions. In 2009, the researchers were awarded a £4.3million Seeding Drug Discovery award to investigate ADIs as a potential treatment for asthma and allergy. In the course of that project, they have identified a novel chemical series that shows promise as a preventative treatment. The new funding will be used to explore this further with a view to identifying a lead compound that could be developed into a drug.