Responding to the study published today in the Science Translational Medicine, showing that the drug Fevipiprant reduces the amount of muscle in the lining of the airway, which can cause asthma symptoms and over time contribute to ‘remodelling’ of the airway, Dr Samantha Walker, Director of Research and Policy at Asthma UK, said:

“The development of a tablet to treat asthma symptoms and potentially prevent lung damage is exciting progress which could, in time, lead to the development of new treatments.

“Around 200,000 people have severe asthma, a type of asthma which responds poorly to the usual inhaled asthma treatments and leads patients to rely on oral steroid tablets which can have toxic long-term side effects. Severe asthma is a debilitating condition, causing life-threatening asthma attacks and countless hospital admissions.

“While the tablet is still some way off being available, and we don’t yet know who would be eligible for it, these results are very encouraging. More research is needed in larger numbers of people to establish how effective it is and work out who would benefit.”