Senicapoc, a novel Gardos channel inhibitor, reduced asthmatic response to inhaled allergen

Gardos channel is a protein "pump" that expels intracellular potassium when activated by calcium. Gardos channel causes dehydration of sickle erythrocytes, its inhibition may serve as an antisickling strategy. http://bit.ly/O15MF

Oral senicapoc, Gardos channel inhibitor, reduced the late asthmatic response to a challenge of inhaled allergen http://bit.ly/JuvyG

However, on 10/26/2009, Icagen Inc. said senicapoc failed the main goals of a midstage study, and it does not plan to keep developing the drug.

Icagen said that in the study of 69 patients randomly receiving either 40 mg of senicapoc daily or a placebo, the drug didn't improve the patients' exercise-induced asthma symptoms.

References:
Icagen asthma drug senicapoc trial fails. Yahoo Finance, 2009.
Image source: Senicapoc. Wikipedia, public domain.

Updated: 10/27/2009