Alicaforsen (ISIS-2302) is an
RNase H-dependent antisense inhibitor of the
intercellular adhesion molecule ICAM-1 under development by Isis
Pharmaceuticals, for the potential treatment of a variety of inflammatory disorders [175741]. As of April 1997 it was in phase III trials for
Crohn's disease (CD); however, the trial failed and, in December 1999, the company suspended development for this indication [352801]. In October 2000, the company re-initiated development in CD [384820] and new phase III trials had begin by May 2001 [409704]. In August 2000, phase II studies of
alicaforsen in an
enema formulation for
ulcerative colitis and a topical formulation for
psoriasis were ongoing [378715]. Development of the compound for the potential treatment of
rheumatoid arthritis (RA) was discontinued in 1999 [347579]. By the end of 1998,
alicaforsen was in phase II trials for kidney transplant rejection. At this time, these trials were expected to finish in mid-1999 [343460]. However, they were ongoing in September 1999, although no further development has been reported for this indication since that time [338672]. In February 1995, Isis
Pharmaceuticals and Boehringer Ingelheim (BI) signed a collaborative agreement on cell adhesion inhibitors, including
alicaforsen [174111]. By early 1999, Isis and BI were to decide on the next developmental step for
alicaforsen following further analyses of its performance against CD [292915], [315439]. Their joint development agreement was terminated in 1999; Isis regained rights to the product and by September 1999 was in talks to license
alicaforsen to another partner for CD [338672]. In June 2000, Cytogenix entered into a sponsored research agreement with Baylor College of Medicine at the Texas Medical Center Houston for the use of its ssDNA expression system for the development of antisense strategies directed against
intercellular adhesion molecules for the purpose of reducing
lung inflammation and injury in disease states and conditions [369677]. US-05514788, and other patents, cover antisense
cell adhesion molecule inhibitors [212289], [234792].