Just an indication on a possible future therapy...

"Protein Design Labs, a Fremont-based biotech company, reported positive results on Monday from a clinical study of a drug to treat asthma.

The Phase II study of daclizumab, already in use to prevent organ rejection in transplants, helped patients whose chronic asthma is not well controlled by high doses of standard inhaled coricosteroid therapy...

PDL is conducting a Phase II clinical trial of the drug in moderate-to-severe ulcerative colitis and expects to report results from the trial by June 2004. Preparatory work continues for a PDL-conducted clinical trial of daclizumab in multiple sclerosis."

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Full Article Text

Protein Design Labs reports positive Phase II results for asthma treatment

Protein Design Labs, a Fremont-based biotech company, reported positive results on Monday from a clinical study of a drug to treat asthma.

The Phase II study of daclizumab, already in use to prevent organ rejection in transplants, helped patients whose chronic asthma is not well controlled by high doses of standard inhaled coricosteroid therapy.

The trial was conducted at 24 centers in the United States and treated a total of 114 patients.

The company said it will study the drug further as a possible long-term treatment for patients with difficult-to-control asthma.

Daclizumab, a humanized antibody, was approved by the FDA for use in transplant patients in 1997. It is marketed by Roche to treat organ rejection in kidney transplants.

PDL is conducting a Phase II clinical trial of the drug in moderate-to-severe ulcerative colitis and expects to report results from the trial by June 2004. Preparatory work continues for a PDL-conducted clinical trial of daclizumab in multiple sclerosis.

Original article can be found here