A new study published in The Lancet Respiratory Medicine reveals that an injection commonly used for severe asthma—benralizumab—may outperform traditional steroid tablets during asthma and COPD exacerbations.
This breakthrough could revolutionize treatment for millions suffering from these respiratory conditions globally.
Asthma attacks and COPD flare-ups are serious health threats. In the UK alone, four people with asthma and 85 people with COPD die daily, with someone experiencing an asthma attack every 10 seconds.
Current treatment involves steroid tablets like prednisolone, which can cause serious side effects such as diabetes and osteoporosis and often fail to prevent future attacks.
The ABRA phase two trial, led by King’s College London and sponsored by the University of Oxford, tested benralizumab on patients at high risk of asthma or COPD exacerbation.
It compared three groups: one received the injection plus placebo tablets, another received steroid tablets plus a placebo injection, and a third received both treatments. Neither participants nor researchers knew which group anyone was in.
Findings showed that benralizumab reduced symptoms more effectively than steroids and reduced the risk of treatment failure by fourfold after 90 days. Patients also reported improved quality of life and fewer emergency visits.
Benralizumab works by targeting eosinophils—white blood cells responsible for inflammation. The treatment is currently approved for severe asthma but has now shown promise when used at the onset of exacerbations. It may soon be administered at home or in GP clinics, offering a faster and safer alternative to steroids.
Professor Mona Bafadhel, the trial’s lead, called the results “game-changing” and emphasized the benefit of targeted therapy over one-size-fits-all steroid use. Dr. Sanjay Ramakrishnan, the study’s first author, noted the urgent need for modern treatments in COPD, which remains the third leading cause of death globally.
Participants like 77-year-old Geoffrey Pointing reported better sleep and fewer side effects compared to steroids. Advocacy groups hailed the discovery but criticized the chronic underfunding of lung research, urging further investment to ensure that all patients receive optimal care.
This pivotal research was supported by AstraZeneca UK Limited and highlights the potential for collaborative innovation between universities and healthcare providers to improve lives worldwide.
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The study is published in The Lancet Respiratory Medicine.
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