New pill to soothe a chronic cough

a new twice- daily pill may help banish chronic coughs, defined as those persisting for eight weeks or more.

in a study where 253 patients were given the pill (in one of three doses) or a placebo, those who received the highest dose had a 37 per cent reduction in coughing compared with the placebo group, according to results presented to the american thoracic society.

the current mainstay treatment is steroids. Chronic coughs can be caused by infections or asthma; the theory is that those affected have hypersensitive nerves.

the new drug, known as Mk-7264, blocks receptors on nerves in the throat thought to trigger the cough reflex. the manufacturer, Merck, is planning a larger trial.