Promising new treatment for respiratory syndrome

A new treatment for patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) has demonstrated an astonishing 81% reduction in mortality.

Approximately 300-400,000 people suffer from ARDS in western countries each year and despite modern day care the mortality rate remains high, around 35-45%. Major causes include direct lung injury such as lung infection (pneumonia), aspiration pneumonia or indirect injuries such as severe sepsis, major multiple trauma or pancreatitis.

At present there is no effective drug treatment for the syndrome, so patients tend to be treated with mechanical ventilation and optimisation and support of vital functions.

This study tested a new drug called Traumakine which demonstrated an 81% reduction in mortality in ARDS patients, with a mortality of only 8.1%, compared to the 32.2% mortality seen in the control group of ARDS patients.

All other measured parameters, including length of mechanical ventilation needed, length of stay in intensive care and support of vital functions also clearly benefited from the treatment.

The results of the trial led by UCLH medical director and BRC faculty member Dr Geoff Bellingan have now been published in The Lancet Respiratory Medicine.

The trial was conducted in eight intensive care units around the UK and was led by a team of scientists and clinicians which also included BRC researcher Professor Hugh Montgomery.

Dr Bellingan said: “Pulmonary vascular leakage occurs early in ALI/ARDS, and mortality remains high. An effective pharmacotherapy is desperately needed.

“Traumakine has been shown to reduce capillary leak and we were very happy to see this translate into a benefit in ARDS patients as predicted. The drug promotes the formation of a local anti-inflammatory molecule and improves the amount of oxygen entering the blood stream from the air.”

Dr Bellingan and his team are looking forward to starting further clinical investigations.

In addition to its high rate of mortality, it is estimated that due to a long ICU and hospital stay, the cost of every saved life from ARDS is approximately £43,000. With a new efficient pharmacotherapy, hospital stays are likely to become shorter and the costs are likely to diminish significantly.

To read ‘The effect of intravenous interferon-beta-1a (FP-1201) on lung CD73 expression and on acute respiratory distress syndrome mortality: an open-label study’ in full click here.