A NEW injection to treat patients who don’t respond to conventional asthma medication has been approved on the NHS.
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice) has recommended ‘wonder drug’ dupilumab which has been proven to reduce the frequency of asthma attacks.
Patients are only eligible for the drug if they have severe asthma with type 2 inflammation (a defined pattern of immune response), who meet an inflammation threshold, have had at least four severe asthma attacks in the last year and are ineligible for other biological treatments.
Charities have welcomed the recommendation of the drug and have said it would ‘transform’ the lives of some patients.
People who suffer with asthma use medication called inhalers.
There are two types, one is a reliever inhaler, which helps quell symptoms when they occur and the second is a preventer inhaler – which prevents symptoms happening.
The new drug would be used alongside these inhalers to help patients.
According to Asthma UK and the British Lung Foundation 200,000 people in the UK often battle with regular asthma attacks and emergency trips to hospital.
In clinical trials, dupilumab has been shown to reduce the frequency of asthma attacks and the use of emergency steroid tablets by almost half when combined with standard inhalers.
Experts have however warned that current guidelines from Nice "are not clear" about when to refer people with severe asthma which means those most at risk are not being referred for treatments.
Dr Samantha Walker, director of research and innovation at Asthma UK and the British Lung Foundation, said: "Today's news could be a real game-changer for the thousands of people with severe asthma across England, Wales and Northern Ireland who live in constant fear of a life-threatening asthma attack happening at any time.
"Severe asthma can have a colossal impact on people's lives.
"People are stuck in a never-ending cycle of hospital visits, which has a serious and debilitating impact on their home, work and social life.”
What are the main symptoms of asthma you need to know?
ASTHMA is a common lung condition that causes breathing difficulties – but it can have devastating consequences.
Asthma is a respiratory condition caused by inflammation of the breathing tubes that carry air to and from our lungs, and it currently affects over 5 million people across the UK.
According to the NHS, the main symptoms of asthma are:
- Wheezing (a whistling sound when breathing)
- Breathlessness
- A tight chest
- Coughing
Although the above symptoms can have a number of causes, they are likely signs of asthma if they happen regularly and keep coming back, are worse at night or early morning, or seem to be in response to an allergen.
The severity of the above symptoms can vary between different people.
When these symptoms suddenly worsen temporarily, it is known as an asthma attack.
Asthma attacks can be caused by allergens, such as animal fur or pollen, cold air, exercise, chest infections or other irritants – such as cigarette smoke.
Allergies and asthma often go together.
Asthma caused by an allergic reaction is known as "allergic asthma".
She added that while Nice's decision to recommend dupilumab is cause for celebration, the ‘sad fact’ is that four in five people with suspected severe asthma are not being referred to specialists for the treatments that could transform, and even save, their lives.
Dr Walker continued: "Asthma UK and the British Lung Foundation is calling for Nice to develop new, clear guidelines so healthcare professionals are confident about when to refer patients with possible severe asthma to get the specialist care they so desperately need.
"If you're experiencing severe asthma symptoms, Asthma UK and the British Lung Foundation has developed a new online tool to help you get on top of uncontrolled symptoms, work out whether you need to ask your doctor for extra help or a referral, and/or ask for specialist support."
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