Drug may head off storm asthma

MELBOURNE researchers are working to develop the first medication to treat the underlying cause of thunderstorm asthma, by “short-circuiting” immune cells driving this potentially fatal allergy reaction.

Unlike current asthma treatments that work to prevent and mask symptoms, the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research is targeting the immune system that triggers the allergic and inflammatory response to airborne rye grass pollen particles during the unique weather event.

Dr Rhys Allan, laboratory head in WEHI’s molecular immunology division, led a team that uncovered how immune cells decide whether they will become allergic cells.

They have now identified a handful of promising “drug leads” that show promise in blocking the inflammatory immune response that causes asthma.

“It effectively rewires the cell so it can’t drive that disease any more,” Dr Allan said.

“As opposed to Ventolin which opens up the airways, but doesn’t actually do anything to the immune system, we want to destabilise those cells during the reaction.

“The next time you become exposed you might actually switch those cells off completely; that’s the dream.”

Last year, 8500 people were hospitalised and nine died from asthma attacks after thunderstorms rolled through greater Melbourne.

As Victoria enters the peak season for thunderstorm asthma, the WEHI researchers are now putting these drug candidates through a next stage of hurdles to test if they can block the disease in the required way.

“You take your leads and test them in a range of settings,” Dr Allan said. “By the end of 12 months we should have a drug we are happy with and we can start to develop it further in preclinical testing.”

The team has been funded up until now by the National Health and Medical Research Council and Cass Foundation, but they are seeking funding for this next stage of the research to develop the candidates into a medication.