First asthma treatment breakthrough in half-century could replace steroids with injections

A research team at King’s College London have made the first breakthrough in asthma and COPD treatment in the last half-century. Using a single injection of Benralizumab in place of steroid therapy could calm down the part of the immune system that sparks asthma attacks and worsens chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD, when it goes into overdrive.

The team have not understated the “revolutionary” care this could provide the two million attacks it could intercept every year in the UK. The research stems from a new discovery that asthma and COPD attacks are caused by different parts of the immune system, changing between patients.

Benralizumab in particular targets a type of white blood cell, eosinophil, that causes inflammation and damage in the lungs. These cells have been implicated in roughly half of asthma attacks and a third of COPD flares.

READ MORE: New asthma treatment 'gamechanger' for treating serious attacks

READ MORE: What is TMJ, the health condition that has seen Zoe Ball quit her show

The study followed 158 people, monitoring them for 3 months after receiving the treatment for a flare-up. It found those that were taking doctor-prescribed steroids, currently the leading treatment, experienced a 74% fail rate while those on this new therapy had a 45% fail rate.

Additionally, participants on the injection therapy were less likely to have hospital admittance, need more treatments or die. They also reported a better quality of life, with one participant, Alison Spooner, telling BBC: “It’s a bit of a miracle actually,” and admitted she only uses her inhaler now because she’s been instructed to despite having three major attacks in the last 5 years.

Other respondents noted they suffered far less side effects than they had endured from their long-term steroid use, which can include weight gain, diabetes and weak bones. The results were published in The Lancet Respiratory Medicine journal.

The drug is not yet ready for widescale use and a larger two-year-long trial is set to start next year, which will also assess cost-effectiveness of these expensive drugs. However, the study so far has been praised by Dr Sanjay Ramakrishnan, from the University of Oxford for its “massive promise” and updating treatments that were “stuck in the 20th century”.

Dr Samantha Walker, from Asthma + Lung UK celebrated the “great news” and potential future treatments this breakthrough offers. However, she pointed out: “It’s appalling that this is the first new treatment for those suffering from asthma and COPD attacks in 50 years," she said.