The first new treatment for asthma attacks in 50 years has been tested by British scientists.
The injection is more effective than the current method of steroid tablets, reducing the need for additional treatment by 30%, according to a new study.
The researchers say their findings could be a “game changer” for millions of people around the world suffering from asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), particularly because the drug is already available on the market.
Asthma attacks and COPD flare-ups, also known as ‘eosinophilic exacerbations’, can be fatal: dozens of people die every day in the UK after experiencing serious flare-ups of symptoms, figures show officials.
These exacerbations include symptoms such as wheezing, coughing, and chest tightness due to inflammation resulting from high amounts of eosinophils, a type of white blood cell. They affect almost half of asthma attacks and up to 30% of COPD flare-ups.
Yet medical treatments have remained largely unchanged for more than half a century, with steroids remaining the mainstay of medications.
The downside of steroids like prednisolone, which can reduce inflammation in the lungs, is that they cause serious side effects, such as diabetes and osteoporosis. Treatment also fails in many patients who need repeated steroid treatments, or who get worse and need to be hospitalized within 90 days.
Results of a recent clinical trial by scientists at King’s College London have revealed that an already available drug can be reused in emergency situations to reduce the need for additional treatment.
“This could be a game changer for people with asthma and COPD. » said the principal investigator Professor Mona Bafadhel, of King’s College.
The team studied Benralizamab, a monoclonal antibody that targets eosinophils to reduce lung inflammation, which is currently used for the treatment of severe asthma. The trial found that a single dose can be four times more effective when injected at the point of exacerbation compared to steroids. tablets.
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The study, which was published in The Lancet Respiratory Medicine divided people at high risk of an asthma attack or COPD into three groups. One group received a benralizumab injection and dummy tablets, another received standard care (prednisolone 30 mg daily for five days) and a dummy injection, and the third group received both benralizumab injection and dummy tablets. standard.
After 28 days, respiratory symptoms, such as coughing, wheezing and shortness of breath, were reduced with benralizumab.
After 90 days, there were four times fewer people in the benralizumab group who had failed treatment compared to standard treatment with prednisolone.
Benralizumab injection treatment also resulted in fewer follow-up episodes requiring a doctor’s visit or hospitalization. The quality of life of people suffering from asthma and COPD has also improved.
“We used the drug in a different way – at the time of an exacerbation – to show that it is more effective than steroid tablets, which are the only treatment currently available,” Professor Bafadhel said.
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“The big breakthrough lies in the discovery of the effectiveness of a targeted therapy against asthma and COPD attacks.”
Researchers say the vaccine can also be administered safely at home.
“We hope these crucial studies will change the way asthma and COPD exacerbations are treated in the future, improving the health of more than a billion people living with asthma and COPD worldwide. world,” she added.
The study’s first author, Dr Sanjay Ramakrishnan, who began the work while at Oxford University, said their study showed “very promising” for the treatment of asthma and COPD.
“COPD is the third leading cause of death worldwide, but treatment for this disease remains stuck in the 20th century. We need to offer these patients options that can save their lives before their time is up. »
Patient Geoffrey Pointing, 77, who took part in the study, described the injections as “fantastic”.
“I didn’t experience any side effects like before with the steroid tablets. Before, I never slept well the first night I took steroids, but on the first day of the study, I was able to sleep that first night and was able to continue my life without problems.
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“Honestly, when you have a flare-up, it’s hard to breathe. Anything that takes that away and gives you a normal life again is what you want.
Dr Samantha Walker, director of research and innovation at Asthma + Lung UK, described the findings as “great news for people with lung conditions”.
“Every four minutes in the UK, someone dies from lung disease, but the treatment of asthma and COPD exacerbations has not changed in 50 years, despite causing 3.8 million deaths per year worldwide. »
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