Pitrakinra

Pitrakinra (Aerovant) is a human recombinant protein. It is an IL-4 and IL-13 antagonist in phase IIa studies for asthma. Its mechanism of action is by interruption of the Th2 lymphocyte immune response that underlies the inflammatory hyperresponsiveness in the airway epithelium of asthmatics.

Asthma results from a dysregulated, hyperresponsive immune response in the airways. Some immune cells in allergic asthmatics respond aggressively to foreign allergens with the release of IL-4 and -13, two key mediators that initiate a cycle of inflammation in the lung. Aerovant is an IL4Ra receptor antagonist that blocks the inflammatory effects of interleukins-4 and -13 (IL-4 and IL-13), thereby promoting a more balanced immune response.