Researchers find miracle cure for severe asthma

Benralizumab can prevent the heaviest episodes of eosinophilic asthma
Asthma is a worldwide, chronic respiratory disease. The inflammation causes bouts of respiratory distress and in some cases can even be fatal. A new medication could now be the hope for patients of life-threatening asthma. Researchers found that injecting Benralizumab also prevents the most severe relapses of asthma.

The researchers from the Wake Forest School of Medicine and the University of British Columbia found in two studies that benralizumab might be a panacea against severe asthma. The drug can also prevent very severe relapses of asthma, which can not normally be treated with high doses of so-called steroid inhalers and other medicines. The physicians published the results of their studies in the medical journal "The Lancet".

Many people in the world suffer from asthma. Some of them suffer from so-called severe eosinophilic asthma. This makes effective treatment difficult. Physicians now discovered a very effective drug for the disease. (Image: Andrey Popov / fotolia.com)

Benralizumab significantly reduces exacerbations
The experts examined the effect of benralizumab in two studies involving more than 2,500 subjects. These all suffered from severe asthma. The physicians compared the effect of the drug with the effect of a placebo. They found that benralizumab significantly reduces rates of so-called exacerbations.

What are exacerbations?
Exacerbations are episodes of progressively worsening shortness of breath, wheezing and tightness of the chest, explain the physicians. In one study, the drug lowered exacerbations by 28 to 36 percent. In the second study, the reduction was even 45 to 51 percent, add the experts.

Usually few treatment options for severe uncontrolled asthma
Patients with severe uncontrolled asthma have very few treatment options if they are already taking high-dose corticosteroids and long-acting beta-agonists, explains author Professor Eugene Bleecker of the Wake Forest School of Medicine.

Benralizumab quickly reduces the eosinophils
The drug's drug eliminates eosinophils in our lungs, say the experts. These play an important role in allergies and asthma disorders. The number of eosinophils has already been almost completely eliminated within the fourth week of treatment, explain the scientists. Thus, the drug can protect patients with severe asthma from premature death. Other research has recently shown that in general, many deaths in asthma patients could be avoided.

Treatment improves lung function and reduces asthma exacerbations
Professor Mark FitzGerald, head of the study at the University of British Columbia, Canada, said the results from both studies confirm the effectiveness of benralizumab. Both four-week treatment and treatment every eight weeks markedly reduced eosinophils. This reduces asthma exacerbations and improves lung function in patients with severe eosinophilic asthma, emphasizes the study leader. (As)