The world’s first potential therapy for an increasingly common, chronic lung condition has been identified following a global trial involving Newcastle experts.
Millions of people living with bronchiectasis could potentially benefit from breakthrough investigational therapy brensocatib.
Bronchiectasis, sometimes referred to as non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis, is a long-term condition where the airways of the lungs become widened, leading to a build-up of excess mucus that can make the lungs more vulnerable to infection.
In Newcastle, 11 patients were involved in the ASPEN trial, led by Professor Tony De Soyza, an honorary consultant respiratory physician at Newcastle Hospitals, and the trust’s respiratory research team.
The Freeman Hospital was the highest recruiting site in the UK and second highest in Europe.
Significant reduction in flare-ups
The findings, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, show that participants given the drug experienced significant reduction in pulmonary exacerbations (‘flare-ups’).
Exacerbations can occur in bronchiectasis patients over several days, with symptoms causing extreme discomfort and distress, including breathlessness.
Prof. De Soyza, who is also professor of pulmonary medicine at Newcastle University, said:
“The outcomes of the study provide hope to many people living with bronchiectasis.
“Our hope is that this treatment can eventually be used alongside current treatment options for bronchiectasis and improve quality of life for patients living with this debilitating condition.
“My thanks go to the patients who took part and made it possible to complete the trial, and to the teams whose hard work and dedication led to the trust becoming the highest recruiting site in the country.”
15 years of work
The trial was led by Professor James Chalmers at the University of Dundee. Professor Chalmers said:
“This is the culmination of 15 years of work that we have been undertaking here at the University of Dundee.
“There is no approved treatment for bronchiectasis, which kills 1500 people in the UK and costs the economy £1.3 billion each year. With the numbers of people receiving a diagnosis increasing steadily across the world, and awareness of bronchiectasis, the need to address this is urgent.
“The results we have published also show that the brensocatib was effective across a wide range of ages, sex and lung functions. This is incredibly exciting and offers the prospect of significant improvements in quality of life for those afflicted with this debilitating illness.”.
Insmed is currently seeking regulatory approval for brensocatib so that it can be made available to the public in the United States, with further applications to be made in Europe and Japan.
