Phase II Trial of Antibody Treatment for Mild Asthma Shows Positive Outcomes

Researchers from McMaster University claim to have successfully examined an antibody that reduces inflammation in the lungs of asthma sufferers. The standard therapies for individuals with asthma are corticosteroids or bronchodilators, taken frequently to manage asthma symptoms. Presently, only individuals with severe asthma get antibody treatments.

However, the scientists behind the new research think their study could lead to antibody therapies suitable for individuals with mild allergic asthma. As some sufferers have issues with steroid-based therapies, an antibody therapy could enhance quality of life for many asthma sufferers.

One of the lead of the new research, Dr. Paul states that:

It was identified that the epithelial cells which line the airways in the lungs develop a protein known as thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) that leads to inflammation. This research, for the initial time, shown that these cells constantly produce this protein in people with asthma.

While we examined sufferers with allergic asthma, this study opens the door for the growth of new therapies not only for this population, but for those diagnosed with serious asthma as well.

The researchers determined that protecting against this protein in the lungs with an antibody reduces inflammation and provides resistance to allergens for people with mild allergic asthma.

For the research, a phase II clinical study group supported by the Allergy, Genes and Environment Network, Clinical Investigator Collaborative (CIC), enrolled 31 sufferers over 5 sites throughout Canada.

After a supervising period of 12 weeks, the scientists identified considerably decreased baseline inflammation in individuals getting the antibody therapy, in comparison with those getting a placebo.

The outcomes of the trial are released in the New England Journal of Medicine and were provided at the American Thoracic Society meeting in San Diego, CA.

Earlier clinical studies examining antibodies as asthma therapies

The McMaster group also performed a trial in 2009 that examined the use of the antibody mepolizumab to cure asthmatics with a persistent type of airway inflammation known as eosinophils.

In 2013, the New England Journal of Medicine released the outcomes of an additional phase II clinical study looking into making use of a monoclonal antibody to manage asthma.

In that research, 52 individuals with moderate-to-severe asthma obtained weekly injections of the antibody known as dupilumab – in inclusion to their normal asthma inhalers. These sufferers experienced considerable developments in peak flow, asthma signs and control, in comparison with 52 individuals who obtained a placebo.

This antibody performs by preventing two cytokines – interleukin-4 and interleukin-13 – in order to avoid activation of the Th2 immune reaction that is related with asthma

This research also observed some side effects, like as nausea, headache and nasopharyngitis, but they were not regarded severe. Recently Clinical Research Society reported on a study published in National Academy of Sciences that says Scientist Identified Drug Candidate that could Treat Allergy Induced Asthma.