A study reveals that benralizumab, an injectable drug, significantly reduces asthma and COPD flare-ups compared to prednisolone, offering faster recovery and fewer side effects. This promising treatment could transform flare-up management, especially for high-risk patients.

A recent study published in The Lancet Respiratory Medicinerevealed a potential breakthrough in treating asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) flare-ups. Every 30 seconds, someone experiences a flare-up of these conditions, traditionally treated with steroids like prednisolone. However, steroids often come with significant side effects and may not be effective for all patients.

The study suggested that benralizumab, an injectable drug that targets eosinophilic inflammation, could be a game-changer. Eosinophilic inflammation is a key driver of flare-ups in many asthma and COPD patients. In a trial involving 158 patients, those treated with benralizumab alone had a treatment failure rate of 45%, compared to 74% for those on prednisolone. The failure rate dropped to 42% for patients receiving a combination of both treatments.

Benralizumab not only showed a significantly lower treatment failure rate but also improved symptom recovery and quality of life, with fewer side effects compared to steroids. This therapy could be especially beneficial for patients who are at higher risk from repeated steroid use, such as older adults and those with conditions like diabetes.

(Source:https://health.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/industry/first-new-treatment-for-asthma-copd-in-half-a-century-new-study/115868886 )