Neurokinin receptor antagonists

The competitive area of neurokinin (NK) receptor antagonists has recently seen the publication of early clinical results which provide strong support for their use in the treatment of pain, emesis and asthma. Preclinical models support their use in a number of additional disorders including anxiety, arthritis, migraine, cancer and schizophrenia. New indications, such as glaucoma and ocular hypotension, neuronal injury and stroke, cardiac disorders and topical applications have recently been claimed. Published patent applications from most of the major pharmaceutical companies claim a wide variety of structural classes as antagonists at all three neurokinin receptors. This review discusses the significance of new clinical data for ongoing drug discovery efforts, and patent claims for new indications and new structural classes for the period since the last review in early 1996.