New drug that can ease severe asthma

A NEw drug that targets the immune response may help patients with severe asthma.

In a 24-week trial, 210 patients were given either the new drug, dupilumab, or placebo injections every two weeks, alongside their standard medication, corticosteroids.

the results, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, showed that dupilumab improved asthma symptoms and lung function, while reducing the need for corticosteroids by up to 70 per cent.

the drug works by blocking two specific proteins (called interleukin-4 and interleukin-13) that are associated with inflammation of the airways.