ABSTRACT
I. Introduction Many inflammatory mediators have been implicated as having an important role in the pathogenesis of asthma, and this has led the pharmaceutical industry to develop specific mediator antagonists as potential therapeutic agents for asthma. Of particular importance is whether these agents can be used as alternative therapies to inhaled corticosteroids and/or as add-on treatments for patients in whom asthma control remains inadequate despite inhaled corticosteroid therapy. The role of these drugs in the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is largely untested. This chapter will concentrate on the therapeutic effects of currently licensed mediator antagonists and modulators in the treatment of asthma.
