Connect with us

Hi, what are you looking for?

Life

Asthma pill could provide relief for adults with severe asthma

Most of the drugs available for asthma today only ease the symptoms, with some drugs widening the airways, and others using steroids to calm inflammation.

The medication being tested is called Fevipiprant, a twice-daily pill that uses a “twin attack” approach to treating severe asthma. It blocks eosinophilic inflammatory cells floating around in the airway, while also treating the airway lining, stopping it from becoming inflamed and at the same time, repairing the lining.

Fevipiprant was developed by the pharmaceutical firm Novartis and acts as a selective, orally available antagonist of the prostaglandin D2 receptor 2 (DP2 or CRTh2). The medication is in Phase II clinical trials with 846 patients, overseen by the University of Leicester.

But researchers at the University of Leicester also conducted a small trial on 60 patients that lasted 12 weeks. These adult patients had severe asthma, despite using inhalers and seeing a specialist regularly. Half the group took Fevipiprant along with their usual medications and the other half took a placebo along with their usual medication.

The results of this short study were published in the Lancet Respiratory Journal Friday night. The study came up with some remarkable results. Inflammation was reduced by four-fifths to residual levels usually seen in normal healthy people.

In the United Kingdom, about 5.4 million people suffer from asthma, and this pill offers real hope for improving their lives say the researchers, according to the Daily Mail.

Charity Asthma UK said the research showed “massive promise and should be greeted with cautious optimism.” This is especially true if the medication can reduce the incidence of flare-ups, which can become life-threatening. The last tablet developed for asthma, called montelukast, reduced inflammation but did not prevent flare-ups.

Doctors have been desperate to find an effective pill for treating asthma because the inhalers are not being used properly. Up to 68 percent of asthma patients don’t use their inhalers the correct way, meaning they don’t get the full dose of medicine.

Fevipiprant research leader Professor Chris Brightling, of the University of Leicester, said: ‘This drug could be a game-changer for future treatment of asthma.” Not only could the new medication be a game-changer, but it would also help in reducing the overall cost of in the management of the disease.

Avatar photo
Written By

We are deeply saddened to announce the passing of our dear friend Karen Graham, who served as Editor-at-Large at Digital Journal. She was 78 years old. Karen's view of what is happening in our world was colored by her love of history and how the past influences events taking place today. Her belief in humankind's part in the care of the planet and our environment has led her to focus on the need for action in dealing with climate change. It was said by Geoffrey C. Ward, "Journalism is merely history's first draft." Everyone who writes about what is happening today is indeed, writing a small part of our history.

You may also like:

Sports

The 2025 Millrose Games were held at The Armory in New York on February 8th, for a good turnout.

Business

A flood of presidential trade policy announcements has kept US automakers on edge since Donald Trump returned to the White House.

Entertainment

Pop singer-songwriter Leroy Sanchez released his new single "Fallin'" on February 7th.

World

Germany's conservative election frontrunner Friedrich Merz pledged a stronger role for Berlin in the EU and muscular support for Ukraine.