Many new antileukotriene drugs are now marketed as antiasthma drugs and represent the first new drugs in this field since the 1970s. This book covers the steps that have led to the discovery and development of these new drugs and offers detailed descriptions of their clinical applications. The review chapters on the main aspects of basic and applied leukotriene research are written by leading specialists in the field, and the volume takes a new approach in presenting information of particular interest to both scientists and clinicians in the fields of asthma, inflammation and allergic diseases.

Inhalt
5-Lipoxygenase.- LTC4 synthase: A key enzyme in cysteinyl leukotriene formation.- Leukotriene A4 hydrolase: A key enzyme in chemotactic leukotriene formation.- Metabolism of leukotrienes and formation of new leukotriene structures.- Receptors for cysteinyl-leukotrienes: Targets for new drugs.- Targeted disruption of 5-lipoxygenase.- Transcellular biosynthesis of leukotrienes: A unique mode of cell communication.- Physiological and pathophysiological activities of leukotrienes.- Entry rate and metabolic handling of LTC4 in the human circulation.- Genetic polymorphisms of 5-LO.- Leukotrienes and aspirin-intolerant asthma.- Leukotrienes in nocturnal asthma.- Leukotrienes and allergic asthma.- Inhibitors of leukotrienes: An overview.- The development of zafirlukast (Accolate®) and the Zeneca series of peptidyl-leukotriene receptor antagonists.- The development of zileuton (ZYFLO®) and the N-hydroxyurea class of 5-lipoxygenase inhibitors.- The development of BAY X 1005 and the Bayer series of leukotriene biosynthesis inhibitors.- The development of iralukast: A member of the Novartis series of cysteinyl leukotriene antagonists.- LTB4 receptor antagonists.- SmithKline Beecham pharmaceuticals' cysteinyl leukotriene receptor antagonists: Pranlukast (SB 205312; Ono-1078; Onon), Pobilukast (SK&F 104353) and SK&F 106203.