A new study has found that an injection already used for severe asthma may work better than standard steroid tablets for treating asthma attacks and flare-ups of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, also known as COPD.
Researchers say the treatment could change the way millions of people around the world are treated for serious breathing problems.
The study was published in The Lancet Respiratory Medicine and involved researchers from King’s College London and the University of Oxford.
The findings suggest that the drug benralizumab may be a safer and more effective alternative to steroid tablets such as prednisolone, which are currently the standard treatment for asthma and COPD exacerbations.
Asthma and COPD are two of the most common long-term lung diseases in the world. Asthma causes the airways to become inflamed and narrow, making it difficult to breathe. Symptoms can include coughing, wheezing, chest tightness, and shortness of breath.
COPD is a long-term lung condition that usually develops after years of damage to the lungs, most often from smoking. It includes diseases such as emphysema and chronic bronchitis.
People with asthma or COPD can experience sudden worsening of symptoms called exacerbations or flare-ups. During these episodes, breathing becomes more difficult and patients may need urgent medical treatment or hospitalization. Severe attacks can be life-threatening.
In the United Kingdom alone, asthma attacks happen very frequently. Researchers say someone experiences an asthma attack every 10 seconds. Four people with asthma and 85 people with COPD die each day in the UK.
For many years, doctors have treated these attacks with steroid tablets like prednisolone. Steroids help reduce inflammation in the lungs and can improve breathing. However, they can also cause serious side effects, especially when used repeatedly over time.
Long-term steroid use has been linked to problems such as diabetes, osteoporosis, weight gain, high blood pressure, weakened bones, mood changes, and increased risk of infection. In addition, steroid treatment does not always prevent future attacks.
Because of these concerns, researchers have been searching for safer and more targeted treatments.
The new study focused on benralizumab, a drug already approved for treating severe asthma in some patients. Benralizumab is a type of biologic medicine that targets eosinophils, which are white blood cells involved in inflammation.
In some people with asthma and COPD, eosinophils become overactive and contribute to swelling and damage in the airways. Benralizumab works by reducing these inflammatory cells, helping to calm the immune response.
The research was part of the ABRA phase two clinical trial. Scientists studied patients who were at high risk of asthma or COPD attacks. Participants were divided into three groups.
One group received benralizumab injections along with placebo tablets. Another group received steroid tablets along with placebo injections. A third group received both treatments together.
To make the study fair and reliable, neither the participants nor the researchers knew who received which treatment during the trial.
The results were striking. Patients treated with benralizumab experienced better symptom control compared to those treated with steroids alone. The injection also reduced the risk of treatment failure by four times over a 90-day period.
Researchers found that patients who received benralizumab also reported a better quality of life and fewer visits to emergency departments.
Professor Mona Bafadhel, who led the trial, described the findings as “game-changing.” She said the results show that targeted treatments may work better than the traditional one-size-fits-all approach that relies heavily on steroids.
Dr. Sanjay Ramakrishnan, the study’s first author, said there is an urgent need for new COPD treatments because the disease remains one of the leading causes of death worldwide. According to global health statistics, COPD is currently the third leading cause of death around the world.
The researchers believe one major advantage of benralizumab is that it could potentially be given quickly at the beginning of a flare-up, either at home or in local GP clinics. This could allow patients to receive faster treatment while avoiding some of the harmful effects linked to steroids.
One participant in the study, 77-year-old Geoffrey Pointing, said the injection helped him sleep better and caused fewer side effects than steroid treatment. Stories like his highlight how important improved treatments could be for people living with chronic lung disease.
Health advocacy groups welcomed the findings but also pointed out that lung disease research has often received less funding than other major diseases. They called for more investment in research to help bring better treatments to patients faster.
The study was supported by AstraZeneca UK Limited, the company involved in developing benralizumab. Researchers say the project demonstrates how partnerships between universities, healthcare systems, and industry can help create new medical advances.
Although more studies will still be needed before treatment guidelines change widely, the findings offer hope for a future with safer and more effective ways to manage asthma and COPD attacks.
The research also reflects a growing shift toward precision medicine, where treatments are designed to target specific biological processes instead of using broad treatments for everyone. Scientists believe this approach may improve outcomes while reducing harmful side effects.
For millions of people living with asthma and COPD, this new injection may eventually provide a better option during dangerous breathing attacks and could help reduce hospital visits, improve daily life, and save lives.
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