New treatments for asthma: From the pathogenic role of prostaglandin D 2 to the therapeutic effects of fevipiprant.

Prostaglandin D ₂ (PGD ₂ ) is a pleiotropic mediator, significantly involved in the pathogenesis of type 2 (T2) asthma because of its biologic actions exerted on both immune/inflammatory and airway structural cells. In particular, the pro-inflammatory and pro-remodelling effects of PGD ₂ are mainly mediated by stimulation of chemoattractant receptor-homologous molecule expressed on Th2 cells (CRTH2). This receptor is the target of the oral competitive antagonist fevipiprant, which on the basis of recent phase II studies is emerging as a potential very promising anti-asthma drug. Indeed, fevipiprant appears to be safe and effective, especially in consideration of its ability to inhibit eosinophilic bronchial inflammation and improve forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV ₁ ). Further ongoing phase III trials will definitely clarify if fevipiprant can prospectively become a valid option for an efficacious add-on treatment of moderate-to-severe T2-high asthma.
Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare no conflict of interest.
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