Researchers at St George’s, University of London have been awarded £4.3 million by the Wellcome Trust for the development of a unique new class of drugs to target the root cause of asthma and allergies.
The research team, led by Professor Clive Robinson, has identified novel, drug-like chemical compounds that combat asthma and allergic diseases of the nose, eyes and skin.
Asthma and allergic conditions such as rhinitis, conjunctivitis and dermatitis are an escalating problem expected to affect more than 100 million people globally by 2011.
In the UK, 5.2 million adults and 1.1 million children currently receive treatment for asthma, creating a significant social and healthcare burden for the NHS.
The Allergen Delivery Inhibitors being developed by Professor Robinson and his team target allergens excreted by dust mites, tiny creatures that live in the carpets and soft furnishings of homes, offices, trains, planes and cars.
The team at St George’s will work with pharmaceutical research and development contractors worldwide to develop a drug for clinical trials in the next few years.
This latest award comes from the Seeding Drug Discovery initiative, and follows more than £1 million of Wellcome Trust support for the programme since 2005.
i have been suffering from Asthma ever since i was little kid. i can only manage it by taking medicines and some food supplements. ‘