New Asthma Injection Offers Hope for Severe Sufferers
Table of Contents
A twice-yearly injection that promises to free thousands of severe asthma sufferers from the terror of life-threatening attacks is set to go on sale in Britain within months.
Made by the British pharmaceutical giant GSK, depemokimab is the first “ultra-long-acting” version of a biologic treatment, which could revolutionise the way severe asthma is treated. these injectable drugs, known as biologics, contain antibodies that dampen inflammation in the lungs.
results from a trial involving 762 patients found that depemokimab cut hospital admissions by 72 per cent, with minimal side-effects.
This month the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) granted marketing authorisation for the treatment. It is indeed due to go on sale privately in the first half of 2026 and the drugs watchdog Nice will decide next year whether it will be prescribed on the NHS.
Ian Pavord, professor of respiratory medicine at the University of Oxford, who led the trials of depemokimab, compared biologics to a “laser-guided missile”.
He said: “Thay just take out the enemy, whereas the more non-specific anti-inflammatory drugs – especially steroids – are more like a cluster bomb. They have a lot of off-target effects that we don’t want. A third of these patients will achieve complete remission of their asthma on biologics, from being in the depths of despair.”
Relief for patients
Treatments for severe asthma have undergone huge advances in the past decade, with new biologics helping to cut hospital admissions. They provide a vastly improved option for patients with severe, uncontrollable asthma, for whom inhalers are insufficient to control their condition.
These patients were previously treated with high-dose steroids whose side-effects include mood changes, weight gain, high blood sugar and osteoporosis.
The authorisation of depemokimab, which will be sold under the brand name exdensur, is another jump forward because it needs to be taken only every six months, compared with the existing biologic asthma treatments, which are taken every two weeks, four weeks or eight weeks.
Dame Emma Walmsley, the outgoing chief executive of GSK, said: “It’s terrifying as a patient, or parent of a patient, to be hospitalised with an asthma attack. now we have the world’s first six-monthly treatment for asthma approved. And our research shows this medicine will reduce the kind of attacks t
New Asthma Drug Depemokimab Offers Potential for Six-Month Relief, But Cost Will Be Key
A new asthma treatment, depemokimab, developed by scientists at GSK in Stevenage, Hertfordshire, offers the potential for significantly reduced treatment frequency – lasting up to six months with a single dose – without increasing side effects. This advancement could dramatically improve the quality of life for asthma sufferers, but its accessibility will hinge on the price set by GSK and subsequent approval by the National institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) https://www.gsk.com/en-gb/news/press-releases/gsk-announces-positive-late-stage-trial-results-for-depemokimab-in-severe-asthma/.
How Depemokimab Works: A Structural Improvement
Depemokimab is a biologic therapy, a class of asthma treatments gaining prominence. Biologic therapies target specific components of the immune system that drive asthma symptoms. GSK scientists achieved the extended duration of action by making two key modifications to the antibody’s structure, allowing it to remain effective in the body for a longer period. This reduces the burden of frequent injections or infusions typically associated with these types of medications.
Expert Reactions: Hopeful, But Cautious
Medical professionals are optimistic about the potential of depemokimab. Nick Hopkinson, medical director of Asthma + Lung UK and professor of respiratory medicine at Imperial College London, highlighted the convenience factor: “This is an crucial step forward.Biologic therapies are becoming more normal and this means patients can get along with their lives without needing regular treatment.” https://www.asthmaandlung.org.uk/news/new-asthma-drug-could-offer-six-month-relief
Though, David Jackson, professor of respiratory medicine at King’s College London and a researcher involved in the depemokimab trial, emphasized the crucial role of pricing. NICE, the body responsible for determining which drugs are available on the NHS, currently sets eligibility criteria for most biologics at a minimum of three severe asthma attacks per year.
“One of the things that we as an asthma community are hoping for is that GSK come in cheap enough to allow for example that bar to be dropped to two exacerbations per year rather than three,” Jackson stated. A lower price point could broaden access to the drug for individuals experiencing a moderate, but still debilitating, level of asthma symptoms.
Understanding Biologic Therapies and Asthma Exacerbations
* Biologic Therapies: These medications are engineered proteins designed to target specific pathways in the immune system that contribute to inflammation and airway obstruction in asthma. Unlike traditional inhalers that provide symptom relief, biologics aim to address the underlying causes of the disease.
* asthma Exacerbations: Also known as “attacks,” these are periods of worsening asthma symptoms, such as wheezing, coughing, chest tightness, and shortness of breath.The frequency and severity of exacerbations are key factors in determining the appropriate level of asthma treatment.
Key Takeaways
* Extended Relief: Depemokimab has demonstrated the ability to provide up to six months of asthma control with a single dose.
* Improved Quality of Life: Reduced treatment frequency can significantly improve convenience and adherence for patients.
* Pricing is Critical: The cost of depemokimab will determine how widely available it is thru the NHS.
* NICE Guidelines: current NICE guidelines may limit access to the drug based on the number of severe asthma attacks experienced per year.
Looking Ahead
GSK is expected to announce the price of depemokimab in the coming weeks. This announcement will be pivotal in determining the drug’s future and its impact on the lives of people living with severe asthma.The asthma community will be closely watching NICE’s evaluation, hoping for a favorable decision that expands access to this perhaps transformative treatment.
Keep reading