New Class of Drug Shows Promise for COPD
Scientists are working to develop a new drug that uses a dual-pronged approach to treat respiratory diseases like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma. Their research has been published in the Lancet Respiratory Medicine. This new type of drug was designed to reverse the narrowing of the airways caused by COPD and combat inflammation more efficiently than contemporary alternatives.
€Further longer term studies of this drug are now eagerly awaited because this could be one of the most substantial advances for some time in the management of patients with chronic airway obstruction€ explained professor Jadwiga A Wedzicha from University College London.
It's called a unique inhaled dual inhibitor and it works by preventing two enzymes in the phosphodiesterase family (PDE3 and PDE4) from slowing the natural processes that relax the smooth muscles of the airway and reduce inflammation.
Current COPD Treatments Under Scrutiny
The gold standard of treatments for COPD and asthma have been corticosteroids (inhaled anti-inflammatory drugs) in combination with bronchodilators for the nearly half a century. However, corticosteroids have become notorious for the slew of adverse side effects they produce and bronchodilators can potentially worsen asthma symptoms.
These treatments have been tested repeatedly in COPD clinical trials like this one and the results have been lacking. Leading researchers agree that new forms of therapy are needed.
Over the course of 4 years, four small COPD clinical studies were conducted in various locations around Europe. Investigative teams needed to test the safety and efficacy of the inhaled dual inhibitor. The experimental treatment was tested with:
12 participants with COPD
28 participants with mild-to-moderate asthma
39 healthy participants
Short-Term Results Were Positive
COPD Clinical Trials in Birmingham, ALJust one dose helped improve respiratory function in participants who had been diagnosed with COPD. The research team reported that their subjects' FEV1 (forced expiratory volume at 1 second) improved by 17 percent.
They also saw a rapid bronchodilation which produced effects comparable to other inhaled 2 agonists in the participants that had asthma and COPD. Continued treatment for 6 days showed that these effects could be maintained in asthma patients.
The participants tolerated this new drug quite well overall - similar rates of side effects were reported in the treatment and control groups. Other inhalers have been known to cause some gastrointestinal reactions, but none were reported in this clinical study.
The early clinical trials were focused primarily on the short-term effects that would be produced by this experimental inhaler. Lead investigators agree that they'll also need to test the long-term effects. Future studies will provide a better understanding of the real potential with this new COPD therapy.
€Further longer term studies of this drug are now eagerly awaited because this could be one of the most substantial advances for some time in the management of patients with chronic airway obstruction€ explained professor Jadwiga A Wedzicha from University College London.
It's called a unique inhaled dual inhibitor and it works by preventing two enzymes in the phosphodiesterase family (PDE3 and PDE4) from slowing the natural processes that relax the smooth muscles of the airway and reduce inflammation.
Current COPD Treatments Under Scrutiny
The gold standard of treatments for COPD and asthma have been corticosteroids (inhaled anti-inflammatory drugs) in combination with bronchodilators for the nearly half a century. However, corticosteroids have become notorious for the slew of adverse side effects they produce and bronchodilators can potentially worsen asthma symptoms.
These treatments have been tested repeatedly in COPD clinical trials like this one and the results have been lacking. Leading researchers agree that new forms of therapy are needed.
Over the course of 4 years, four small COPD clinical studies were conducted in various locations around Europe. Investigative teams needed to test the safety and efficacy of the inhaled dual inhibitor. The experimental treatment was tested with:
12 participants with COPD
28 participants with mild-to-moderate asthma
39 healthy participants
Short-Term Results Were Positive
COPD Clinical Trials in Birmingham, ALJust one dose helped improve respiratory function in participants who had been diagnosed with COPD. The research team reported that their subjects' FEV1 (forced expiratory volume at 1 second) improved by 17 percent.
They also saw a rapid bronchodilation which produced effects comparable to other inhaled 2 agonists in the participants that had asthma and COPD. Continued treatment for 6 days showed that these effects could be maintained in asthma patients.
The participants tolerated this new drug quite well overall - similar rates of side effects were reported in the treatment and control groups. Other inhalers have been known to cause some gastrointestinal reactions, but none were reported in this clinical study.
The early clinical trials were focused primarily on the short-term effects that would be produced by this experimental inhaler. Lead investigators agree that they'll also need to test the long-term effects. Future studies will provide a better understanding of the real potential with this new COPD therapy.
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