Professor nervous as cases rise despite progress

A Perth professor in respiratory research who this week achieved worldwide acclaim for his work on a treatment for COVID-19 has told the PA of his nervousness as cases start to climb.

Professor James Chalmers and a team of scientists at Dundee University are a step closer to a medical breakthrough for a potential treatment for COVID-19.

But as confirmed cases rise across mainland Scotland, the professor said he is experiencing the same kind of trepidation he felt back in March before the lockdown.

He said “For me, there was a period in March when the numbers in hospital had not risen but we felt that sense of nervousness and I have started to feel that now.

“The numbers are creeping up now. I feel a little bit nervous. We are at quite an important stage.”

Professor Chalmers and a group of scientists from Dundee University were this week praised after making a potential breakthrough in finding a treatment for COVID-19.

Two separate studies have found a new treatment for inflammation of the lungs.

As COVID-19 causes a similar type of lung inflammation, the findings could prove pivotal and were this week published in the world’s top medical journal - the New England Journal of Medicine - a lifelong goal for the academic who lives in Perth.

The numbers are creeping up now. I feel a little bit nervous. We are at quite an important stage Prof Chalmers

He told the PA: “It’s amazing. This will be the pinnacle of my career.”

Professor Chalmers and British Lung Foundation-funded PhD student Holly Keir presented their findings this week to the world’s largest meeting of respiratory doctors and scientists - this year’s virtual European Respiratory Society Congress.

Holly said: “The immune system normally tries to clear infections such as viruses or bacteria from the lungs cleanly, quietly, and without damaging the lung tissue around them.

“Our research has shown how this goes wrong in lung conditions. When this happens, the key immune cells, called neutrophils, explode, forming NETs (neutrophil extracellular trap formations) that damage the lungs

“Many lung conditions are caused by the immune system going too far, too fast, in trying to fight infections. Showing how this goes wrong is the key to unlocking new treatments, both for chronic lung conditions and perhaps also for COVID-19.”

In a separate study, Professor Chalmers headed up a team funded by biopharmaceutical company Insmed Incorporated looking at a new drug called brensocatib, which blocks excessive neutrophil immune response.

He explained: “We have found a new treatment for lung disease but the reason why it is so important is not just because of its effect on bronchiectasis but there is also the potential to use that drug in other conditions.

“There has never been a drug that can target that level of inflammation. It can target inflammation in rheumatoid arthritis and inflammatory bowel disease.

“From a scientific point of view, it’s quite a breakthrough.”

And there is the potential this medical breakthrough could lead to a treatment for COVID-19.

Professor Chalmers explained: “We are doing the trial of this same medicine with COVID.”

The same type of lung inflammation occurs in patients with COVID-19 which is why the National Institute for Health Research prioritised Professor Chalmers’ study as an urgent public health study.

Professor Chalmers and his team began the STOP-COVID (Superiority Trial Of Protease inhibition in COVID-19) study back in April.

He hopes to have the results of that by the end of the year.