New infection form of a drug already on the market could be revolutionary treatment for asthma and COPD
Credit:Shuttestock:Jarun Ontakrai
There’s good news for asthma and COPD sufferers, as an injection of a drug already on the market promises to be the latest medical revolution.
Currently, steroid tablets are the medication of choice for asthma and COPD flare ups and attacks, but medical professionals say that the new injection will reduce the need for further steroid treatment by 30 per cent for asthma and COPD sufferers.
According to researchers, these findings could be “game-changing” for millions of people around the world with either of the two conditions. COPD, which stands for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, as well as asthma, can trigger flare-ups or attacks also known as “eosinophilic exacerbations,” and these can be fatal causing the deaths of dozens of people every day in the UK.
Symptoms of such attacks include wheezing, coughing, and chest tightness caused by inflammation in the chest from high amounts of eosinophils, a type of white blood cell. This is responsible for almost half of asthma attacks and up to 30 per cent of COPD flare-ups.
Currently-used steroid tablets for asthma and COPD cause side effects
While commonly-used steroids like prednisolone are effective, there can produce severe side effects including diabetes and osteoporosis. The treatment is not foolproof either, with those requiring repeated treatment left with no guarantee of success.
However, interestingly despite the ubiquitous nature of asthma and related diseases, there has been little investigation into treatments beyond steroids. COPD is the third biggest cause of death globally with 3.8 million deaths being reported every year across the world.
Now, there is fresh hope as recent clinical trials led by scientists from King’s College London have discovered that an already-available drug can be re-hashed in emergency settings and reduce the need for ongoing treatment.
Benralizamab: reduction in asthma and COPD flare-up symptoms
Benralizamab, a monoclonal antibody that targets eosinophils and can minimize inflammation in the lungs is currently used to treat severe asthma, but it has been discovered that a single dose in the case of flare-ups and attacks can be four times more effective when injected compared to steroid tablets. The study involved three groups being given different combinations of steroid tablets and the Benralizamab injection with results clearly indicating a reduction in symptoms of those receiving Benralizamab treatment as well as more successful recovery and fewer relapse episodes. Professor Bafadhel said: “We’ve used the drug in a different way – at the point of an exacerbation – to show that it’s more effective than steroid tablets which is the only treatment currently available.”
Even better news is administering the jab from home is also a possibility meaning that it is a convenient way to nip attacks and flare-ups in the bud and in-situ.
Study first author Dr. Sanjay Ramakrishnan said their study shows “massive promise” for asthma and COPD treatment on a universal scale. Patients being treated with the new injection have reported improved quality of life and sleep patterns – some using the word “fantastic” or “life-changing.”
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