Zileuton

THURSDAY, May 11, 2023 -- If you suffer from allergies, you know how bothersome and uncomfortable the sneezing and itchy eyes can be. These symptoms are more than irritating — they impact day-to-day activities like work, school, sports, sleeping and even eating. Not only that, but allergies can also cause more serious health problems such as asthma and even anaphylaxis, a life-threatening allergic reaction. Allergies are a common health condition affecting almost one-third of adults in the United States and just over one-quarter of children under 17, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention . But there is relief at hand: Here’s what you need to know about the most common allergy medicines, the type of allergies they treat, how they work and common side effects. Antihistamines This type of allergy medicine is very effective in relieving allergy symptoms. Mayo Clinic explains this drug type works by blocking histamine, “a symptom-causing chemical released by your immune system during an allergic reaction.” Antihistamines are available as an over-the-counter medication or as a prescription allergy medicine, and they are sold in oral form, as a nasal spray or as eyedrops. This allergy medicine treats symptoms of indoor and seasonal allergies. Common side effects of antihistamines include drowsiness, dry mouth, dizziness, blurred or double vision, mucous thickening and low blood pressure. Common antihistamines include: Oral Loratadine (Alavert, Claritin) Cetirizine (Zyrtec) Diphenhydramine (Benadryl) Doxylamine (Vicks NyQuil, Tylenol Cold and Cough Nighttime) Fexofenadine (Allegra) Nasal spray Olopatadine (Patanase) Eyedrops Ketotifen (Zaditor) Leukotriene modifiers Leukotriene modifiers prevent or lessen the symptoms of allergic rhinitis (hay fever) and allergic asthma. The Cleveland Clinic explains that leukotrienes are chemicals released in the body when you come in contact with an allergen. This causes symptoms like a runny nose and coughing. Leukotriene inhibitors block the effects leukotrienes have on the body or “stop your body from producing them.” This allergy medicine treats symptoms of indoor and seasonal allergies. Leukotriene inhibitors can cause side effects such as cold or flu symptoms, headache, diarrhea, fatigue and itchy skin or rash. More serious side effects like depression, thoughts of suicide, hives, trouble breathing, vomiting and yellowing of the skin or eyes can occur. You should seek medical treatment in these cases. Common leukotriene inhibitors include: Montelukast (Singulair) Zafirlukast (Accolate) Zileuton (Zyflo) Corticosteroids Corticosteroids treat mild to severe allergy symptoms by reducing inflammation caused by your body’s reaction to an allergen. Corticosteroids are available in several forms including pills and liquids, nasal sprays, inhalers, creams and eyedrops. They treat allergic inflammation caused by indoor and seasonal allergens as well as insect stings. Severe allergic reactions are treated with oral corticosteroids, according to the Mayo Clinic. Side effects vary depending on the medication form, but can include increased blood glucose levels, high blood pressure, nosebleeds, mouth and throat irritation, and skin irritation. Common corticosteroids by form include: Pills and liquids Prednisolone (Prelone) Methylprednisolone (Medrol) Nasal sprays Budesonide (Rhinocort) Mometasone (Nasonex) Inhalers Fluticasone (Flovent) Mometasone (Asmanex Twisthaler) Creams Betamethasone (Dermabet, Diprolene) Desonide (Desonate, DesOwen) Eyedrops Fluorometholone (Flarex, FML) Loteprednol (Alrex, Lotemax) Immunotherapy Immunotherapy works by modifying the immune system and its reaction to allergens. It’s not used for immediate allergy symptom relief but is a long-term allergy treatment. Immunotherapy treatments (or allergy shots) are prescription medicines. "Allergy shots can be helpful for patients with seasonal and year-round allergies," Miranda Curtiss , an assistant professor at the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Medicine, said in a recent article . "However, these are a long-term investment that require planning to continue therapy for three to five years for maximal benefit. Asthmatics who want to start allergy shots need to have their asthma under good control first before starting shots." With allergy shots, you are exposed to an allergen over and over until your immune system becomes desensitized and no longer reacts to the allergen, the Mayo Clinic says. This type of treatment is commonly given as allergy shots (subcutaneous immunotherapy, or SCIT), but is also available in a form given under the tongue (sublingual immunotherapy, or SLIT). With SCIT, injections are given in your doctor’s office where they can monitor for adverse reactions. Treatment starts with the “build-up phase,” which is once or twice a week, and decreases to a maintenance dose which is once every two to four weeks. Sublingual immunotherapy treatment, like subcutaneous immunotherapy, also exposes you to allergens over a period of time, with the goal of building immunity to the allergen. SLIT tablets are available by prescription and taken daily. Immunotherapy is used to treat seasonal and indoor allergies, as well as insect stings. Side effects include watery eyes, sneezing, mild asthma symptoms, a rash at the injection site, tiredness and headaches. In rare cases, life-threatening reactions such as throat swelling and difficulty breathing can occur. Regardless of the type of allergy or your symptoms, there are options for relief. Reach out to your health care provider to learn more about which remedies are best for you. Posted May 2023

Landmark Agreement for New Tuberculosis Treatment SEONGNAM-SI, South Korea and NEW YORK, Feb. 3, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Qurient Co. Ltd. ("Qurient", KRX: 115180), a clinical-stage biotechnology company based in South Korea, and TB Alliance, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to the discovery, development and delivery of better, faster-acting and affordable tuberculosis drugs, announced today that they have entered into a license agreement to develop and commercialize telacebec (Q203), a first-in-class orally available cytochrome bc1 inhibitor for the treatment of tuberculosis (TB) and other non-tuberculosis mycobacterium infections. Under the terms of the license agreement TB Alliance obtains the exclusive worldwide license (except for South Korea, Russia and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) countries) to develop and commercialize telacebec for the treatment of tuberculosis and some non-tuberculosis mycobacteria (NTM) infections. Kiyean Nam, Ph.D., CEO of Qurient, commented "As telacebec's unique mechanism of action of blocking energy metabolism of the Mycobacterium can address all types of TB, including drug-resistant TB, we expect telacebec to potentially become an essential component of drug combination regimens for the treatment of TB. We believe telacebec will greatly contribute to the global efforts to combating the TB pandemic, which remains a serious public health challenge worldwide. Our partnership with the TB Alliance will accelerate the widespread availability of telacebec and bring it to those in need." Mel Spigelman, MD, President and CEO of TB Alliance, said "TB Alliance is excited to partner with Qurient to bring about the next generation of TB cures. New drugs like telacebec are urgently needed in the fight against TB as well as certain NTM infections – compounds with potentially impactful novel mechanisms of action can have a significant benefit in combating the TB pandemic. If we expect to regain ground lost to COVID-19, we need to use every tool we have to give patients the best possible treatment and save lives. We look forward to advancing this new compound as part of combination regimens that could yield a short, simple, safe, and highly effective cure for all forms of TB." About Telacebec (Q203) Telacebec is a first in class investigational drug that selectively inhibits the cytochrome bc1 complex of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. This complex is a critical component of the electron transport chain, and its inhibition disrupts the bacterium's ability to generate energy. The potent efficacy of telacebec against both drug sensitive and drug resistant TB has been demonstrated in preclinical and clinical studies. Telacebec was successfully tested in Phase 2a early bactericidal activity (EBA) study for tuberculosis and the results were published in the New England Journal of Medicine (March, 2020). Telacebec has received Orphan Drug Designation and Fast Track Designation from the U.S. FDA. Tuberculosis is a tropical disease eligible for the FDA Priority Review Voucher (PRV) program. About Qurient Qurient is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company based in South Korea and is listed on the Korea Exchange (KRX 115180). Qurient focuses on the development of novel therapeutics from discovery to human proof-of-concept stages through virtual R&D project management platform. Qurient currently has four programs in clinical development: Q301, a topical leukotriene inhibitor for atopic dermatitis that has completed a Phase 2b study; telacebec (Q203), a first-in-class orally available cytochrome bc1 inhibitor for tuberculosis that has completed a Phase 2a study; Q702, a first-in-class Axl/Mer/CSF1R receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor in Phase 1/2; and Q901, a selective CDK7 inhibitor in Phase 1. A subsidiary of Qurient, QLi5 is developing immunoproteasome inhibitors targeting multiple Myeloma and other indications. For more information, please visit . About TB Alliance TB Alliance is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to finding faster-acting and affordable drug regimens to fight TB. Through innovative science and with partners around the globe, we aim to ensure equitable access to faster, better TB cures that will advance global health and prosperity. TB Alliance operates with support from Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (United Kingdom), Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, Germany's Federal Ministry of Education and Research through KfW, Global Disease Eradication Fund (South Korea), Global Health Innovative Technology Fund, Indonesia Health Fund, Irish Aid, Korea International Cooperation Agency, Medical Research Council (United Kingdom), National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs, South Korea's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, United Kingdom Department for International Development, and the United States Agency for International Development. For more information, please visit: SOURCE TB Alliance