A “REVOLUTIONARY” jab could end the need for asthma inhalers, a study suggests.
Scientists found 92 per cent of sufferers who used benralizumab were able to safely reduce use of their steroid puffer, and six in 10 patients could stop using it entirely.
GettyScientists found six in 10 asthma sufferers could stop using their inhalers when taking benralizumab[/caption]
David Jackson, professor of respiratory medicine at King’s College London, said: “Biological therapies such as benralizumab have revolutionised severe asthma care in many ways.
“The results of this study show for the first time that steroid related harm can be avoided for the majority of patients using this therapy.”
An estimated 5.4million people in the UK have asthma – about one in every 12.
Up to five per cent have it severely, which can result in breathlessness, chest tightness and a cough, as well as repeated asthma attacks which require frequent hospitalisation.
Many treat their condition with high-dose steroid inhalers – anti-inflammatory sprays or powders that you breathe in.
But long-term use is associated with osteoporosis, increased risk of fractures, diabetes and cataracts.
Researchers wanted to see if this risk could be reduced with alternative treatments, like benralizumab.
The biologic therapy reduces the number of inflammatory cells called eosinophils, which are produced in abnormal numbers in the airway of patients with severe asthma and are critically involved in the development of asthma attacks.
Benralizumab is injected every four to eight weeks and is available in specialist NHS asthma centres.
Scientists studied 208 patients across 22 sites in four different countries – the UK, France, Italy and Germany.
Each was randomly assigned to taper their high-dose inhaled steroid by varying amounts over 32 weeks, followed by a 16-week maintenance period.
About nine in 10 patients experienced no worsening of asthma symptoms and remained free of any exacerbations throughout the 48-week study.
The authors said their results could be transformative for patients in minimising or eliminating the unpleasant side effects of inhaled steroids, which include a sore throat, hoarseness, a cough and oral thrush, as well as the potential long-term complications.
The SHAMAL study, published in The Lancet, was hailed a “major breakthrough”.
But the authors added that similar tests are needed before firm recommendations can be made regarding the safety and efficacy of reducing or eliminating high-dose steroid use with other biologic therapies.
The three other approved biological treatments for severe asthma are omalizumab, mepolizumab and reslizumab.