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Coler BS, Shynlova O, Boros-Rausch A, Lye S, McCartney S, Leimert KB, Xu W, Chemtob S, Olson D, Li M, Huebner E, Curtin A, Kachikis A, Savitsky L, Paul JW, Smith R, Adams Waldorf KM. Landscape of Preterm Birth Therapeutics and a Path Forward. J Clin Med 2021; 10:2912. [PMID: 34209869 PMCID: PMC8268657 DOI: 10.3390/jcm10132912] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2021] [Revised: 06/24/2021] [Accepted: 06/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Preterm birth (PTB) remains the leading cause of infant morbidity and mortality. Despite 50 years of research, therapeutic options are limited and many lack clear efficacy. Tocolytic agents are drugs that briefly delay PTB, typically to allow antenatal corticosteroid administration for accelerating fetal lung maturity or to transfer patients to high-level care facilities. Globally, there is an unmet need for better tocolytic agents, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. Although most tocolytics, such as betamimetics and indomethacin, suppress downstream mediators of the parturition pathway, newer therapeutics are being designed to selectively target inflammatory checkpoints with the goal of providing broader and more effective tocolysis. However, the relatively small market for new PTB therapeutics and formidable regulatory hurdles have led to minimal pharmaceutical interest and a stagnant drug pipeline. In this review, we present the current landscape of PTB therapeutics, assessing the history of drug development, mechanisms of action, adverse effects, and the updated literature on drug efficacy. We also review the regulatory hurdles and other obstacles impairing novel tocolytic development. Ultimately, we present possible steps to expedite drug development and meet the growing need for effective preterm birth therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brahm Seymour Coler
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA; (B.S.C.); (S.M.); (M.L.); (E.H.); (A.C.); (A.K.); (L.S.)
- Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine, Washington State University, Spokane, WA 99202, USA
| | - Oksana Shynlova
- Department of Physiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada; (O.S.); (A.B.-R.); (S.L.)
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5G 1E2, Canada
| | - Adam Boros-Rausch
- Department of Physiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada; (O.S.); (A.B.-R.); (S.L.)
| | - Stephen Lye
- Department of Physiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada; (O.S.); (A.B.-R.); (S.L.)
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5G 1E2, Canada
| | - Stephen McCartney
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA; (B.S.C.); (S.M.); (M.L.); (E.H.); (A.C.); (A.K.); (L.S.)
| | - Kelycia B. Leimert
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2R7, Canada; (K.B.L.); (W.X.); (D.O.)
| | - Wendy Xu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2R7, Canada; (K.B.L.); (W.X.); (D.O.)
| | - Sylvain Chemtob
- Departments of Pediatrics, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC H3T 1J4, Canada;
| | - David Olson
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2R7, Canada; (K.B.L.); (W.X.); (D.O.)
- Departments of Pediatrics and Physiology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2S2, Canada
| | - Miranda Li
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA; (B.S.C.); (S.M.); (M.L.); (E.H.); (A.C.); (A.K.); (L.S.)
- Department of Biological Sciencies, Columbia University, New York, NY 10027, USA
| | - Emily Huebner
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA; (B.S.C.); (S.M.); (M.L.); (E.H.); (A.C.); (A.K.); (L.S.)
| | - Anna Curtin
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA; (B.S.C.); (S.M.); (M.L.); (E.H.); (A.C.); (A.K.); (L.S.)
| | - Alisa Kachikis
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA; (B.S.C.); (S.M.); (M.L.); (E.H.); (A.C.); (A.K.); (L.S.)
| | - Leah Savitsky
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA; (B.S.C.); (S.M.); (M.L.); (E.H.); (A.C.); (A.K.); (L.S.)
| | - Jonathan W. Paul
- Mothers and Babies Research Centre, School of Medicine and Public Health, College of Health, Medicine and Wellbeing, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW 2308, Australia; (J.W.P.); (R.S.)
- Hunter Medical Research Institute, 1 Kookaburra Circuit, New Lambton Heights, NSW 2305, Australia
| | - Roger Smith
- Mothers and Babies Research Centre, School of Medicine and Public Health, College of Health, Medicine and Wellbeing, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW 2308, Australia; (J.W.P.); (R.S.)
- Hunter Medical Research Institute, 1 Kookaburra Circuit, New Lambton Heights, NSW 2305, Australia
- John Hunter Hospital, New Lambton Heights, NSW 2305, Australia
| | - Kristina M. Adams Waldorf
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA; (B.S.C.); (S.M.); (M.L.); (E.H.); (A.C.); (A.K.); (L.S.)
- Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
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