Words by Jade Williams
An injectable therapy has shown significant promise in treating asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) exacerbations, marking the first major innovation in this area in over half a century.
Research supported by AstraZeneca has demonstrated that a single dose of benralizumab significantly reduces treatment failure rates – by four times compared to traditional steroid tablets. The ABRA phase II clinical trial, led by King’s College London and the University of Oxford, tested this monoclonal antibody, which is already used for severe asthma. Administered during exacerbations, the injection outperformed standard steroid treatments, reduced hospital visits, prolonged symptom-free periods and improved patients’ quality of life.
Professor Mona Bafadhel, Lead investigator of the trial, King’s Centre for Lung Health called the findings a “game-changer for people with asthma and COPD”. She explained, “Instead of giving everyone the same treatment, we found targeting the highest-risk patients with very specific therapy, based on the level of inflammation, was much better than guessing what treatment they needed.”
Asthma and COPD exacerbations are life-threatening, claiming four asthma-related and 85 COPD-related lives daily in the UK. These conditions, which cost the NHS £5.9bn annually, affect millions, with an asthma attack occurring every 10 seconds. Many exacerbations are triggered by high levels of eosinophils, a type of white blood cell. These flare-ups account for nearly 50% of asthma attacks and 30% of COPD exacerbations, often leading to irreversible lung damage.
With its potential for use in emergency settings, this therapy offers new hope for millions worldwide, addressing a long-standing unmet need in respiratory care.
