An injection given during some asthma and COPD attacks is more effective than the current treatment of steroid tablets, reducing the need for further treatment by 30%.
King's College LondonNov 27 2024
The type of symptom flare-up the injection treats are called 'eosinophilic exacerbations' and involve symptoms such as wheezing, coughing and chest tightness due to inflammation resulting from high amounts of eosinophils . Eosinophilic exacerbations make up to 30% of COPD flare-ups and almost 50% of asthma attacks. They can become more frequent as the disease progresses, leading to irreversible lung damage in some cases.
Benralizamab is a monoclonal antibody which targets specific white blood cells, called eosinophils, to reduce lung inflammation. It is currently used for the treatment of severe asthma. The ABRA trial has found a single dose can be more effective when injected at the point of exacerbation compared to steroid tablets.
Treatment with the benralizumab injection took longer to fail, meaning fewer episodes to see a doctor or go to hospital. There was also an improvement in the quality of life for people with asthma and COPD. Professor Mona Bafadhel said, "We hope these pivotal studies will change how asthma and COPD exacerbations are treated for the future, ultimately improving the health for over a billion people living with asthma and COPD across the world."
Geoffrey Pointing, 77 from Banbury, who took part in the study, said: "Honestly, when you're having a flare up, it's very difficult to tell anybody how you feel - you can hardly breathe. Anything that takes that away and gives you back a normal life is what you want. But on the injections, it's fantastic. I didn't get any side effects like I used to with the steroid tablets.
Antibody Blood Cell Clinical Trial Coughing Diabetes Drugs Healthcare Inflammation Lungs Medicine Monoclonal Antibody Osteoporosis Research Respiratory Sleep Steroid White Blood Cell
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