A new study has found that an injected medication could help aid asthma attacks and flare-ups of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
A “game-changing” new discovery by researchers at King’s College London could revolutionise treatment for asthma and COPD patients. The first breakthrough in treatment in 50 years involves an injection of Benralizumab, which can calm the overactive part of the immune system responsible for sparking asthma attacks and exacerbating chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
The team is excited about the “revolutionary” care this could provide, potentially intercepting two million attacks annually in the UK. This research is based on a recent novel finding that asthma and COPD attacks are triggered by different immune system components, varying between patients.
Benralizumab specifically targets eosinophils, a type of white blood cell that causes lung inflammation and damage, implicated in about half of asthma attacks and a third of COPD flare-ups. A study involving 158 participants monitored over three months post-treatment for a flare-up revealed that those on standard doctor-prescribed steroids had a 74% fail rate, while those receiving the new therapy experienced only a 45% fail rate.
The new injection therapy trial has shown promising results, significantly reducing the likelihood of participants needing hospitalisation, additional treatments, or facing mortality. It reportedly improves life quality, as evidenced by participant Alison Spooner, who expressed to the BBC: “It’s a bit of a miracle actually,” while revealing her reliance on inhalers is only out of instruction now, despite having suffered three major attacks in the previous five years.
Others also reported experiencing fewer side effects compared to their conventional steroid treatments, known for causing issues like weight gain, diabetes, and weakened bones. The encouraging findings have been published in The Lancet Respiratory Medicine journal.
While not yet available for broad use and with a more extensive two-year trial starting next year to determine cost-effectiveness, the drug elicits excitement for its potential. Dr Sanjay Ramakrishnan of the University of Oxford praised the research for its “massive promise” and modernising treatment options that had previously “stuck in the 20th century”.
Similarly, Dr Samantha Walker from Asthma + Lung UK heralded this advancement as “great news” for future therapies. Yet she also underscored the dire need for innovation, highlighting: “It’s appalling that this is the first new treatment for those suffering from asthma and COPD attacks in 50 years,” she stated.