For the first time in 50 years, a groundbreaking treatment for asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is offering renewed hope to millions of patients worldwide. Doctors are celebrating the results of a new trial that shows administering an injection during severe attacks can significantly improve outcomes compared to the current standard treatment of steroid tablets.
The findings, published in The Lancet Respiratory Medicine, reveal that the treatment reduces the need for additional interventions by 30%, potentially transforming care for those battling these debilitating conditions.
The drug at the center of this breakthrough is benralizumab, a monoclonal antibody designed to target eosinophils, a type of white blood cell responsible for lung inflammation during severe asthma and COPD attacks. While benralizumab is already approved for managing severe asthma in low doses, the trial demonstrated that a higher single dose given during flare-ups is remarkably effective.
Professor Mona Bafadhel, the lead investigator from King’s College London, called the findings a “gamechanger” for respiratory medicine. “Treatment for asthma and COPD exacerbations has remained unchanged for decades, despite these conditions causing 3.8 million deaths globally each year,” she said.
Trial Highlights
The study, conducted by King’s College London and other UK institutions, included 158 participants who sought emergency care for asthma or COPD attacks.
Patients were given a blood test to determine whether their condition was an “eosinophilic exacerbation,” which accounts for approximately 50% of asthma attacks and 30% of COPD attacks. Participants were divided into three groups:
- Those receiving benralizumab injections with placebo tablets.
- Those receiving standard steroid treatment (prednisolone) and placebo injections.
- Those receiving both benralizumab injections and steroids.
The results were compelling:
- After 28 days, patients on benralizumab reported fewer symptoms like coughing, wheezing, and breathlessness compared to those on steroids.
- After 90 days, patients receiving benralizumab were four times less likely to require further medical attention than those on steroids.
- Quality of life improved significantly for patients on benralizumab, with fewer side effects than steroids, which are linked to diabetes and osteoporosis.
Researchers noted that benralizumab could potentially be administered in settings beyond emergency departments, such as GP offices or even at home, broadening access to the treatment.
The study, supported by AstraZeneca, highlighted the drug’s safety and effectiveness without interference from the pharmaceutical company in the trial’s design or interpretation.
Despite the promising findings, experts are urging more funding for respiratory research. Dr. Samantha Walker of Asthma and Lung UK described the results as both exciting and frustrating, emphasizing the lack of progress in lung health treatments over the past half-century. “This breakthrough highlights the urgent need to prioritize lung health research to save lives and improve outcomes for millions,” she said.
With COPD as the third leading cause of death worldwide and asthma affecting millions, this development offers hope for a future where severe respiratory attacks can be managed more effectively and safely. As researchers push for wider adoption of benralizumab, the medical community anticipates a significant shift in how these conditions are treated.
