A groundbreaking discovery: a new treatment for chronic lung diseases has been found for the first time in 50 years.

The findings of the study are particularly significant, considering the high mortality rates associated with diseases worldwide, where in the UK alone, asthma attacks claim four lives each day, and COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) results in 85 deaths daily. Together, asthma and COPD affect millions of individuals and cost the National Health Service (NHS) £5.9 billion annually. Traditional treatments for exacerbations, primarily steroid-based therapies like prednisolone, have remained unchanged for over 50 years, despite serious side effects and frequent treatment failures, writes King's College London.

The study, conducted by King's College London and the University of Oxford, focused on eosinophilic exacerbations—flare-ups triggered by elevated levels of eosinophils, a type of white blood cell. These exacerbations account for nearly half of asthma attacks and 30% of COPD flare-ups. While modern steroid medications effectively reduce inflammation, they often lead to side effects such as diabetes and osteoporosis, and many patients experience recurrent exacerbations that require readmission or result in death within 90 days of treatment.

In the second phase of the study, three treatment groups were compared: injections of benralizumab with placebo pills, standard prednisolone therapy with placebo injections, and a combination of both treatments. Utilizing a double-blind method, neither the patients nor the researchers were aware of which treatment was assigned, eliminating bias. The results indicated that benralizumab significantly reduced respiratory symptoms and lowered the rate of treatment failures by four times compared to standard steroid therapy over 90 days. Patients receiving benralizumab also required fewer hospital visits, indicating longer-lasting efficacy and improved quality of life.

The safety profile of benralizumab was comparable to previous studies, enhancing its potential for broader clinical application. Professor Mona Bafadhel emphasized that this research demonstrates a shift towards targeted therapy, which can personalize treatment for high-risk patients. This new approach contrasts with outdated universal steroid medications and has the potential to transform the emergency care provided for respiratory diseases.

Patients involved in the trial shared positive experiences, highlighting the real impact of this treatment method. Jeffrey Pointing, a COPD patient from Banbury, expressed his gratitude, noting relief and the absence of side effects compared to traditional steroids. His testimony adds a human dimension to the statistical successes, underscoring the potential for improving daily life.

Dr. Samantha Walker described the results as a beacon of hope, although she criticized the chronic underfunding of lung health research that has stifled progress for decades. She advocates for increased investment to support and expand such life-saving innovations. Dr. Sanjay Ramakrishnan, who initiated this work, also noted that COPD is the third leading cause of death globally, highlighting the urgent need for modern treatment methods.