New horizons in allergy diagnostics and treatment

Abstract

Numerous studies show that both physicians and patients look forward to new therapies for allergic diseases. Since antileukotrienes and omalizumab were introduced to asthma treatment, no new class of drugs has been approved for use in asthma or allergic rhinitis. Drug development in allergy covers several pathways, most of which are quite promising. In this review, some aspects of new drug development are discussed. New drug classes, such as cytokine antagonists, kinase inhibitors, and transcription factor antagonists, may soon be introduced as treatment options for allergic diseases. Moreover, new anti-immunoglobulin E antibodies and phosphodiesterase-4 inhibitors have been recently introduced and a rapid development in molecular diagnosis of sensitization has been observed. Unfortunately, the available studies have not provided new methods for the prevention of allergic diseases. Copyright by Medycyna Praktyczna, Kraków 2013.