New asthma pill shows ‘promise’, could be game-changer
An early study of an experimental pill could potentially help adults with severe asthma. Patients who were given the drug, Fevipiprant, in the small trial had less inflammation in their airways. Patients with uncontrolled asthma felt that their symptoms improved.
More than five million people in the UK have asthma, a long-term condition that affects the airways in the lungs and can cause a cough, wheezing and breathlessness.For most people the right treatment – for example, inhalers – can help control it, but some people have more persistent symptoms.According to Asthma UK, 1,216 people died from asthma in 2014.
According to Charity Asthma UK, the research showed “massive promise and should be greeted with cautious optimism”.
Researchers at the University of Leicester in the UK looked at 60 patients who had severe asthma despite using steroid inhalers and being seen regularly by specialists.
Half the group were given the Fevipiprant pill for three months on top of their usual medications and the other half continued to take their normal medication as well as a placebo pill. Researchers found that while patients took Fevipiprant, they had fewer inflammatory blood cells in their phlegm and airways – which can be key signs of asthma.
According to one of the participants, Gaye Stokes, who has had severe asthma for 16 years, she knew straightaway that she was given the drug. She felt completely different, less wheezy and more active. She also said that her asthma deteriorated again when she stopped taking the drug.
But researchers say this is still an early proof-of-concept study and larger, long-term trials will be needed to see if the pill can help patients in everyday life.
Meanwhile, Dr. Samantha Walker at Asthma UK said: “This research shows massive promise and should be greeted with cautious optimism.
“The possibility of taking a pill instead of using an inhaler will be a very welcome one, particularly as this study focused on people who develop the condition in later life, some of whom we know can struggle with the dexterity required to use an inhaler.
“More research is needed and we’re a long way off seeing a pill for asthma being made available over the pharmacy counter, but it’s an exciting development.”
