Development of highly selective beta-1 adrenoceptor antagonists (360G-Wellcome-086039_Z_08_A)

Development of highly selective beta-1 adrenoceptor antagonists Beta blockers have a serious side-effect of causing airway narrowing, shortness of breath and wheezing, and cannot be taken by patients with both heart and lung diseases. Dr Jillian Baker, Professor Steve Hill, Dr Barrie Kellam and Professor Peter Fischer at the University of Nottingham have been awarded funding to develop highly selective beta-1 antagonists. The programme is based around a lead compound with over 3000-fold beta-1 selectivity and demonstrated activity in an in vivo animal model. Once developed, the group's drug candidate will by definition have less respiratory side-effects and should be able to be given safely to the hundreds of thousands of patients with both heart and lung diseases.