A new treatment for severe asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) flare-ups could revolutionize care after 50 years of unchanged therapy, researchers have said. The treatment, which involves a single injection of the drug Benralizumab, has shown promising results, with a study revealing that it is more effective than traditional steroid tablets and reduces the need for further treatment by 30%.
The study, published in Lancet Respiratory Medicine, involved 158 patients who were monitored for three months after experiencing a flare-up of asthma or COPD. Benralizumab, a monoclonal antibody currently used for severe asthma, targets specific white blood cells called eosinophils to reduce lung inflammation. While the drug is already used in lower doses for long-term asthma management, this trial investigated the impact of a higher, single dose given at the time of a flare-up.
The trial involved patients receiving either the Benralizumab injection, standard care with steroid tablets (prednisolone), or a combination of both treatments. After 28 days, patients who received the Benralizumab injection showed significant improvement in symptoms such as cough, wheezing, breathlessness, and sputum. After 90 days, the results were even more striking, with four times fewer people in the Benralizumab group requiring further treatment compared to those receiving steroids alone. Patients treated with Benralizumab also reported a better quality of life, with fewer visits to doctors and hospitals.
Experts say this treatment could be a game-changer, particularly because it avoids the severe side effects associated with long-term steroid use, such as diabetes, osteoporosis, and weight gain. Lead investigator Professor Mona Bafadhel from King’s College London emphasized that this treatment could transform care for millions of people suffering from asthma and COPD, conditions that cause millions of deaths worldwide each year.
The new approach also offers the possibility of administering the injection at home or in a GP’s office, making it more accessible than traditional hospital-based treatments. However, researchers caution that Benralizumab is not yet ready for widespread use. A larger, two-year trial set to begin next year will evaluate the drug’s cost-effectiveness and confirm the initial promising results.
Dr. Samantha Walker from Asthma and Lung UK welcomed the findings but pointed out the underfunding of lung health research, noting that this is the first new treatment for asthma and COPD attacks in five decades. While the treatment shows massive potential, experts agree that more research is needed to make it widely available.
AstraZeneca provided the drug for the study, which was funded by the pharmaceutical company but without involvement in the trial design or analysis.