Revolutionary injection could cut COPD deaths and prevent life-threatening flare-ups
Patients with incurable lung disease now have access to a revolutionary injection that could help prevent life-threatening flare-ups.
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease – or COPD – affects 1.7 million people in the UK.
Patients often experience what are known as flares, in which symptoms worsen and the risk of serious complications increases. More than 30,000 people die every year due to this disease.
The new drug dupilumab can reduce the frequency of these flare-ups, which often cause shortness of breath and cough, by a third.
The fortnightly vaccine was approved by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) last year, and last week the first COPD patients received the drug on the NHS.
Experts say the injection could help reduce COPD deaths and hospital admissions, which cost the health service around £2 billion a year.
This condition, most commonly triggered by smoking, is typically treated with inhalers and steroids.
Research also shows that lifestyle changes, such as regular exercise and a healthy diet, can reduce the risk of flare-ups. But studies show that most COPD patients will not live more than ten years after diagnosis.
The revolutionary new drug dupilumab may reduce COPD deaths and prevent life-threatening exacerbations. Image: A woman with COPD clutches her chest (File image)
Dupilumab targets proteins that cause inflammation in the body. This helps the patient breathe easier by reducing swelling in the airways as well as reducing mucus formation.
‘Dupilumab offers people an effective, targeted treatment that gives impressive results in reducing exacerbations and improving lung function,’ said Helen Knight, director of medicines evaluation at NICE.
‘This is better for patients, offers real hope for a better quality of life and is better for the NHS.’
The first person to receive dupilumab was Patrick Regan, 67, from Catford, south-east London, who had the vaccine at Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust.
Mr Regan, who was diagnosed with COPD 15 years ago, said: ‘I’m glad about it; Anything to make me feel a little better and breathe better.
‘COPD affects me very much and prevents me from doing the things I want to do, such as walking and going out with my children and grandchildren.
‘This is one of the most important reasons to take this medicine.’
