Interleukin-1 Receptor Antagonist (IL-1Ra) is a naturally occurring protein that plays a crucial role in regulating the immune response by inhibiting the activities of interleukin-1 (IL-1). The recombinant form of this protein, known as Human Recombinant IL-1Ra, has been developed for therapeutic purposes, particularly in the treatment of inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis.
IL-1Ra was first discovered in 1984 in the urine and serum of patients with leukemia and in the supernatant of cultured monocytes . The protein was named for its ability to competitively bind to the IL-1 receptor, thereby antagonizing the function of IL-1. This discovery paved the way for the development of recombinant forms of IL-1Ra for therapeutic use.
Recombinant Human IL-1Ra (rHuIL-1Ra) is produced using recombinant DNA technology. One of the most well-known forms of rHuIL-1Ra is anakinra, marketed under the brand name Kineret™ . Anakinra differs from the native IL-1Ra by the addition of an N-terminal methionine, but it binds to the IL-1 receptor with the same affinity as IL-1β .
Recombinant IL-1Ra has been extensively studied and used in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Clinical trials have demonstrated that anakinra, in combination with methotrexate (MTX), is effective in reducing the signs and symptoms of RA in patients who have inadequate responses to MTX alone . Anakinra has also been investigated for its potential use in other inflammatory conditions and diseases.
The pharmacokinetics and safety of recombinant IL-1Ra have been evaluated in various studies. For example, a study conducted on healthy Chinese subjects assessed the pharmacokinetics and safety of a recombinant human IL-1Ra candidate drug, GR007 . The results showed that a single intramuscular injection of GR007 had good safety and tolerability, with no serious adverse events reported .