Asthma and COPD flare-ups can be terrifying experiences, leaving individuals struggling for every breath. Geoffrey Pointing, a 77-year-old from Banbury, England, vividly recalls the distress of such episodes.

“Honestly, when you're having a flare-up, it's very difficult to tell anybody how you feel — you can hardly breathe,” Pointing shared in a news release.

However, relief may be on the horizon, thanks to an existing injectable drug, benralizumab, which a recent clinical trial suggests could revolutionize the treatment of these conditions.

A Safer and More Effective Alternative to Steroids

Benralizumab, a monoclonal antibody initially approved in 2017 for severe asthma, has shown remarkable promise in managing asthma and COPD exacerbations. The trial, published in The Lancet Respiratory Medicine, found that the drug significantly outperformed the standard steroid treatment, prednisolone, in reducing respiratory symptoms such as coughing, wheezing, and breathlessness.

After three months, patients on benralizumab were four times less likely to experience an asthma or COPD attack than those on steroids.

“This could be a game-changer for people with asthma and COPD,” said Dr. Mona Bafadhel, lead researcher and chair of respiratory medicine at King’s College London. “Treatment for asthma and COPD exacerbations hasn’t changed in 50 years, despite these conditions causing 3.8 million deaths worldwide annually. Benralizumab is already a safe and effective drug for severe asthma. Using it at the point of an exacerbation has proven to be more effective than steroid tablets, the only current treatment.”

A Patient’s Perspective

Pointing, a participant in the trial, described the drug as “fantastic.” He emphasized the stark difference it made compared to steroids, which often caused side effects like insomnia.

“With steroids, I never slept well the first night,” he said. “But with benralizumab, I could sleep right away and carry on with my life without problems.”

Benralizumab works by targeting eosinophils, a type of white blood cell that contributes to lung inflammation. These cells are involved in up to 50% of asthma attacks and 30% of COPD flare-ups. By reducing eosinophil levels in the lungs, the drug alleviates symptoms and prevents severe episodes.

Improved Quality of Life

The trial divided participants into three groups: one received benralizumab during flare-ups, another took prednisolone, and a third received both treatments. Patients in the benralizumab group not only reported fewer symptoms but also experienced longer intervals before needing medical intervention.

The injections also improved patients' overall quality of life. Administered by healthcare professionals during the trial, researchers believe the treatment could eventually be safely delivered at home or in a doctor’s office.

A Leap Forward in Respiratory Care

Dr. Sanjay Ramakrishnan, a clinical senior lecturer at the University of Western Australia and co-lead researcher, highlighted the urgent need for innovative treatments.

“COPD is the third leading cause of death worldwide, but treatment for the condition is stuck in the 20th century,” he said. “We need to provide life-saving options before it’s too late for these patients.”

The clinical trial received support from AstraZeneca, benralizumab’s manufacturer.

With its proven effectiveness and potential for at-home administration, benralizumab could represent a major breakthrough in the management of asthma and COPD, offering millions of patients a safer, more effective alternative to steroids.