A drug repositioning success: The repositioned therapeutic applications and mechanisms of action of thalidomide

2020 ◽  
pp. 107815522097582
Author(s):  
Gedefaw Getnet Amare ◽  
Birhanu Geta Meharie ◽  
Yaschilal Muche Belayneh

Background Thalidomide is the most teratogenic human medicine ever marketed and was associated with birth defects in approximately 10,000 children in the 1960s. The pharmacological effects of thalidomide are attributed to its anti-angiogenic, anti-inflammatory and modulatory effect on cytokines principally tumor necrosis factor-α, while the teratogenic effects are linked to two molecular targets, namely cereblon and tubulin. Teratogenicity is the gravest adverse effect of thalidomide depending on the dose and time of exposure. Nonetheless, with System for Thalidomide Education and Prescribing Safety program, the possibility of teratogenicity can be completely avoided. The sensitive period during pregnancy for thalidomide teratogenicity in humans is approximately 20-34 days after fertilization. Methods Relevant articles were identified from Google scholar and PubMed (MEDLINE) using different search strategies. Conclusion Clinical trials showed that thalidomide has been found effective in the treatment of advanced renal cancer, esophageal cancer, chemotherapy refractory endometrial cancer and pancreatic cancer, which can suggest its future therapeutic potential in cancer treatment. Thalidomide is also used in the treatment of inflammatory skin disorders and has shown promising effect in the treatment of autoimmune disorders and inflammatory bowel disease. Despite thalidomide being a renowned teratogen and neurotoxin, it has been successfully repositioned and FDA approved for the treatment of erythema nodosum leprosum and multiple myeloma under strict control.

2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 162-163
Author(s):  
M Mikail ◽  
A Wilson

Abstract Background The utility of therapeutic drug monitoring for guiding the dosing of tumor necrosis factor-α antagonists (TNFAs) in luminal inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is well-established and well-accepted. TNFAs, specifically infliximab and adalimumab, have become integral to the management of the rare, neutrophilic dermatosis, pyoderma gangrenosum (PG) in IBD. Little is known regarding the target serum TNFA concentrations to guide dosing to achieve resolution of PG in IBD. Aims To describe the serum TNFA concentrations (infliximab or adalimumab) associated with the resolution of PG lesions in patients with IBD. Methods Patients with IBD and associated PG treated with one of infliximab or adalimumab (collectively known as TNFAs) seen at two academic hospitals affiliated with Western University were identified. Serum TNFA concentrations were assessed at the time of PG treatment. Results Nine patients were identified. All patients had IBD-associated PG. Seven patients were treated with infliximab and 2 patients were treated with adalimumab. All patients received standard dosing. Eight patients had complete resolution of their PG, while one had near complete resolution at the time of last follow-up. A median serum infliximab concentration of 3.00 (IQR, 3.52) µg/ml at week 14 and a median serum adalimumab concentration of 2.02 (IQR, 0.98) µg/ml at week 12 were seen at the time of PG treatment. Conclusions Herein, we report low serum TNFA concentrations despite PG healing in a cohort of IBD patients. This is lower than what is in patients for successful TNFA treatment in luminal and fistulising IBD. Funding Agencies NoneNone.


2016 ◽  
Vol 43 (2) ◽  
pp. 267-272 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adi Broyde ◽  
Uri Arad ◽  
Noa Madar-Balakirski ◽  
Daphna Paran ◽  
Ilana Kaufman ◽  
...  

Objective.To estimate the longterm humoral response of an antipneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPSV23) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), psoriatic arthritis (PsA), ankylosing spondylitis (AS), or inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)-associated spondyloarthropathy (SpA), and the effect of demographic and clinical factors and treatment on the longterm efficacy of the vaccine.Methods.A total of 145 consecutive patients treated with biologics [tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) or interleukin 6 (IL-6) receptor inhibitors] or methotrexate (MTX) participated in this study. Fifteen were excluded because of absent information regarding their vaccination status (n = 9) or because of technical problems in obtaining their serum sample (n = 6). They were diagnosed with RA (n = 63, 48.5%), PsA (n = 29, 22.3%), AS (n = 28, 21.5%), or IBD-associated SpA (n = 3, 2.3%). Their mean age was 54.6 years, and 61.5% were women. Data were collected on the timing of vaccination, demographic and clinical characteristics, and treatment, and patients’ serum antipneumococcal antibody levels were tested.Results.Two-thirds of the patients (67.7%) had received PPSV23 45 months (mean) earlier. Treatment included TNF-α inhibitors (73.9%), IL-6 receptor inhibitors (13.1%), or MTX without a biological treatment (13%). The uptake of vaccination was significantly higher in the older population (> 65 yrs). Vaccinated patients had significantly higher antibody levels compared with vaccine-naive patients. The antibody levels had been preserved after 10 years. MTX use, but not biologics, was associated with significantly lower antibody levels.Conclusion.The longterm efficacy of the PPSV23 vaccination seems to be preserved among patients with RA, PsA, AS, and IBD-associated SpA for at least 10 years. Efficacy is slightly impaired by MTX, but it is not affected by biologics. These findings suggest that revaccination after 5 years might not be needed for all, and testing the antibody titers should be considered to identify those who may benefit from revaccination.


2018 ◽  
Vol 54 ◽  
pp. 329-335 ◽  
Author(s):  
Caterina Defendenti ◽  
Fabiola Atzeni ◽  
Sergio Malandrin ◽  
Sandro Ardizzone ◽  
Piero Luigi Almasio ◽  
...  

Pharmaceutics ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (6) ◽  
pp. 539
Author(s):  
Bahez Gareb ◽  
Antonius T. Otten ◽  
Henderik W. Frijlink ◽  
Gerard Dijkstra ◽  
Jos G. W. Kosterink

Crohn’s disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC) are inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) characterized by intestinal inflammation. Increased intestinal levels of the proinflammatory cytokine tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) are associated with disease activity and severity. Anti-TNF-α therapy is administered systemically and efficacious in the treatment of IBD. However, systemic exposure is associated with adverse events that may impede therapeutic treatment. Clinical studies show that the efficacy correlates with immunological effects localized in the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) as opposed to systemic effects. These data suggest that site-specific TNF-α inhibition in IBD may be efficacious with fewer expected side effects related to systemic exposure. We therefore reviewed the available literature that investigated the efficacy or feasibility of local TNF-α inhibition in IBD. A literature search was performed on PubMed with given search terms and strategy. Of 8739 hits, 48 citations were included in this review. These studies ranged from animal studies to randomized placebo-controlled clinical trials. In these studies, local anti-TNF-α therapy was achieved with antibodies, antisense oligonucleotides (ASO), small interfering RNA (siRNA), microRNA (miRNA) and genetically modified organisms. This narrative review summarizes and discusses these approaches in view of the clinical relevance of local TNF-α inhibition in IBD.


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