A new way of treating severe asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) attacks could be a “game changer” and the first leap in treatment in 50 years, researchers say. Patients could be given an injection that is more effective than the current care of steroid pills and reduces the need for further treatment by 30 percent, according to a new study.

Benralizumab – a monoclonal antibody Specifically targets white blood cells called eosinophils that reduce inflammation in the lungs. Currently, it is used as a repeat treatment for severe asthma at low doses, but a new clinical trial has found that higher single doses can be extremely effective if injected at the time of an asthma flare-up. Might be possible.

Report, published in Lancet Respiratory MedicineAround 160 people were actively involved who required immediate medical attention in A&E for an asthma or COPD attack – which causes breathing difficulties.

How was the trial conducted?

Patients are first given blood tests to find out what type of seizures they are having – those experiencing eosinophilic exacerbations include a type of white blood cell that is suitable for treatment. Is.

Scientists say that about 50 percent Asthma attacks are eosinophilic stimulationAs do 30 percent of those with COPD. The clinical trial, led by King’s College London and carried out at Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust, saw patients randomly divided into three groups.

Scientists injected one group with benralizumab injections and dummy pills, while the other received standard care that included 30 mg of prednisolone steroid daily for five days with a dummy injection. The third group received both benralizumab injection and steroids.

After 28 days, people taking benralizumab had better respiratory symptoms of cough, wheezing, shortness of breath and sputum. And after 90 days, there were four times fewer people in the benralizumab group who failed treatment than those who received steroids. The researchers said benralizumab injections also took longer for treatment to fail, meaning patients had to make fewer visits to the GP or hospital.

Additionally, people also reported a better quality of life under the new system.

Why is Benralizumab better?

According to scientists, steroids cause serious side effects such as increased risk of type 2 diabetes and osteoporosis, which means switching to benralizumab which offers huge benefits. “This could be a game-changer for people with asthma and COPD. Despite causing a combined 3.8 million deaths each year worldwide, the treatment of asthma and COPD has not changed in 50 years. “Benralizumab is a safe and effective medicine that is already used to manage severe asthma,” said Professor Mona Bafdel, principal investigator at King’s.

“We have used the drug in a different way – at a point of intensity – to show that it is more effective than steroid tablets, which are the only treatment currently available,” he said.

The researchers said benralizumab could potentially be administered safely at home or in a GP practice as well as A&E.

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