The present Competitive Intelligence Report about Interleukin-6 (IL-6) and Receptor (IL-6R) Antagonists for treatment of rheumatoid arthritis and multiple myeloma provides a competitor evaluation in the field of R&D projects with Interleukin-6 (IL-6) and Receptor (IL-6R) Antagonists as of February 2009.
Although the causes of rheumatoid arthritis are not fully understood, constitutive overproduction of interleukin-6 (IL-6), a multifunctional cytokine that regulates immune response, inflammatory reaction and bone metabolism, is thought to play a major pathological role in RA. With the recent approval of tocilizumab, a humanized anti-IL-6 receptor antibody originating from Chugai and under development at Roche in Western countries, this target has become clinically validated and now can show its commercial potential in competition with TNF blockers.
Another four antibodies against interleukin-6 or its receptor are also in clinical development and several other biologics in preclinical stages are advancing towards phase I. Apart from rheumatoid arthritis, the potential of anti-IL-6/R agents is also being evaluated in other inflammatory diseases. Several cancer studies with multiple myeloma as the lead indication investigate the clinical utility of this target in oncology.
The report includes a compilation of currently active projects in research and development of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and IL-6 receptor (IL-6R) antagonists.. Competitor projects are listed in a tabular format providing information on:
- Drug Codes - Target / Mechanism of Action - Class of Compound - Company - Product Category/Therapeutic Area - Indication - R&D Stage and additional comments with a hyperlink leading to the source of information
