First asthma treatment in 50 years: Scientists make major medical breakthrough
Scientists have discovered that the drug benralizumab, currently used for severe asthma, could be repurposed in emergency settings to reduce the number of hospitalizations and further treat asthma and COPD conditions.
Scientists say a new treatment could be “transformative” for millions of people suffering from asthma and COPD around the world.
These are the results of a Phase 2 clinical trial of ABRA led by scientists at King’s College London, sponsored by the University of Oxford, according to the findings of a study published in The Lancet Respiratory Medicine.
This shows that an already available drug could be reused in emergency settings to reduce the need for further treatment and hospitalisation.
The drug, called benralizumab, is a monoclonal antibody that targets specific white blood cells called eosinophils to reduce lung inflammation. It is currently used to treat severe asthma.
The ABRA trial found that a single dose may be more effective when injected at the point of exacerbation than steroid tablets.
“This could be a game-changer for people with asthma and COPD. There has been no change in the treatment of asthma and COPD in fifty years, despite 3.8 million deaths a year worldwide,” said the King’s Center trial leader. said investigator Professor Mona Bafdel. For lung health.
“Benralizumab is a safe and effective drug that is already used to manage severe asthma. We used the drug in a different way, at the point of asthma exacerbation, to show that it works better than steroid tablets.” is more effective than the only treatment currently available.” ” he added.
Traditionally administered by health care professionals, benralizumab injections may soon be used in general practices or emergency departments.
Professor Mona Bafdel hopes the findings will revolutionize asthma and COPD care, benefiting more than a billion patients globally.
Dr. Sanjay Ramakrishnan, lead author of the ABRA trial, highlighted the urgent need for improved COPD treatment, calling the study an important step forward.
Geoffrey Pointing, 77, who took part in the study, shared his relief: “Flare-ups are debilitating. The injections allowed me to live normally without the side effects of steroids.”
Dr Samantha Walker of Asthma + Lung UK described the findings as unprecedented, adding that funding for lung research is desperately needed: “Every four minutes, someone in the UK dies from lung disease. Together, We can ensure healthy lungs for all. It is appalling that this is the first new treatment for people suffering from asthma and COPD attacks in 50 years, which shows how much is lacking in lung health research.
