First New Treatment for Asthma Attacks in 50 Years

**Scientists Discover New Treatment for Asthma and COPD That May Be More Effective Than Current Options** Over the past 50 years, treatment options for asthma attacks or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) — two similar diseases — have not changed significantly. However, new findings published on November 27 in *The Lancet Respiratory Medicine* suggest what could be a "radical shift" for millions of people with asthma and COPD worldwide. Professor Mona Bafadhel, lead researcher in the new treatment trial from King's College London, told *Newsweek*: > "The only treatment we have for attacks is steroids, which are not always effective and can cause serious side effects." ### Traditional vs. New Treatment When patients are given steroids, such as a drug called **prednisolone**, to treat an asthma attack, it may reduce inflammation in the lungs but increases the risk of serious conditions like diabetes or osteoporosis. Many patients who use steroids do not respond well to the treatment. This means they may need more steroids, get hospitalized again, or even die within 90 days. Bafadhel’s team studied the effect of injecting patients with a drug called **benralizumab** — a lab-engineered protein designed to act as an antibody targeting a specific type of white blood cell known as **eosinophils**, to reduce lung inflammation. Eosinophils are responsible for about **30%** of COPD exacerbations and **half of asthma attacks**. Benralizumab is currently used to treat severe asthma, but not for COPD or asthma attacks. Bafadhel’s team divided more than **150 patients** with asthma and COPD who were being treated in emergency departments across the UK into three groups: 1. A group that received **benralizumab and placebo pills** 2. A group that received **steroids and a placebo injection** 3. A group that received **both benralizumab and steroids** Neither the patients nor the researchers knew who received which treatment, to ensure the results were not influenced by psychological or non-drug-related factors. After **28 days**, respiratory symptoms — cough, wheezing, shortness of breath, and phlegm — improved more with benralizumab. After **90 days**, the number of treatment failures in the benralizumab group was **four times lower** than in the steroid group. Patients who received benralizumab also reported a better quality of life. ### Asthma Asthma is a chronic lung condition that causes inflammation and narrowing of the airways in the lungs. It affects **6.2% of children** and **8.7% of adults** in the U.S., according to 2022 data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Asthma can make breathing difficult and lead to symptoms like wheezing, coughing, and shortness of breath. Bafadhel said: > “It’s a common condition, but for many, it’s a major illness that interferes with daily activities like work, exercise, and caregiving.” An asthma attack can be serious and life-threatening when there's rapid worsening or difficulty breathing and no improvement after using an inhaler. ### Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) COPD is a long-term lung condition that causes damage or blockage in the airways, often due to smoking or air pollution. According to the CDC, about **16 million adults** in the U.S. live with COPD. Bafadhel said in a statement that this treatment: > “Could be a game-changer for people with asthma and COPD, and that benralizumab was safe and effective.”