I learnt today that there is a new drug out for uncontrolled COPD with evidence type 2 inflammation levels.
This medication is called Dupixent and has been approved for use in Europe by the European Medicines Agency. Before you get too excited, of course this doesn't mean that it has been approved for use in the UK yet! It won't be available for everyone either when it is.
So watch this space people who have difficult to control COPD. Anything which will help to better manage the condition will undoubtedly be really welcome. If I hear any more then will post it up.
Quote from the pharmceutical company Sanofi. Dupixent approved in the EU as the first-ever targeted therapy for patients with COPD
* First-in-world approval of Dupixent for adults with uncontrolled COPD with raised blood eosinophils based on two landmark phase 3 studies showing Dupixent significantly reduced exacerbations, improved lung function and also improved health-related quality of life
* Dupixent is the first new treatment approach for COPD in more than a decade and a new option for approximately 220,000 adults in the EU
* Approval represents the sixth approved indication for Dupixent in the EU and seventh approved indication globally
Go well.
Pauline
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This drug is already in use in the UK for severe asthma and severe eczema, im on it for asthma, so hopefully that makes the availability of it for copd quicker than normal.
I looked it up it’s already available see what I read
Bottom Line
Dupixent is approved for use in moderate-to-severe eczema (atopic dermatitis), in moderate-to-severe asthma, in patients with chronic rhinosinusitis (sinus and nasal cavity swelling) and nasal polyps (growths on the sinuses), in eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE), and for prurigo nodularis (a skin condition).
It is an injectable interleukin-4 receptor (IL-4) alpha antagonist that blocks receptors in the body to help lower inflammation that can lead to symptoms.
Thank you for sharing Pauline. Funny I did a copd trial 19month ago that was an injection once a month - I got the placebo sadly - doubt it would be this but anything to help us is great
Oh that is interesting that you were on the trial.. yes, shame you got the placebo, but come the day when it is more available who knows you make be fortunate to be offered it ?
Good news but also a little confusing to me. My respriatory team and the consultant both told me that raised blood eosinophils was a marker for asthma, not COPD unless the drug is for overlap patients with both conditions?
I pulled this exert from the European Medical Journal but the article was dated 2015 so maybe there is newer evidence now:
On comparing the eosinophil counts of the three groups, we found that the asthma group had significantly higher values than those of the COPD and ACO groups but when we compared the neutrophil counts, we found an opposite trend in the results. The neutrophil counts in the COPD and ACO groups were significantly higher than those in the asthma group.
Thanks for posting the BMJ article, I'm a firm believer in gaining as much knowledge as possible.
It will become available hopefully in November for COPD sufferers with raised blood eosinophil levels .
I have a letter from my consultants saying I’ll be put on it in November as I’ve been on previous Trials with this drug and another , which totally changed my life while I was taking it . I never had one chest infection and obviously no hospital stays 😊😊
Hi Rich, oh that is interesting, thanks for letting us know that. I have both Asthma and COPD but not currently under consultant care.
I have been taking Roflumilast for the last two years and it has changed my life too. No bacterial or other chest infections since I started taking it. Such a feeling of well-being too! What a relief.
Keep in touch won’t you and let us know how you get on once it is prescribed for you.
We have spoken before Pauline about Roflumilast I am still on it but have to say my acerbations have shown no improvement. Side effects are still ongoing for me. I shall stick with it for a while yet as I feel very lucky that I was offered it.
Hello again, Ah I hope that you might feel the benefit of the Roflumilast before too much more time goes by. Are you feeling disappointed ?
Looking back I recall the side effects lasting for the first 3-4 months before they settled down to none. I do still get occasional exacerbations - say one a year now instead of 3-4 although not have needed any short course antibiotics since I started taking it. I am still taking Azithromycin alternate days.
Fatigue is quite a big issue for me, days when I can do very little and need help although I do feel my lungs are deteriorating more slowly than they once were which is a small bonus.
At first I really thought that my breathing had improved now II do not feel any improvement. Exacerbations have increased which has led to longer courses of steroids, four in fact since February.
Fatigue has long been an issue for me and if I am honest is the worst of the side effects. I also developed Epilepsy four years ago which the medication also has a lot of side effects. II shall keep going on Roflumilast hoping that in time it may improve my quality of life. x
I did a quick search. The vast majority of COPD patients can stop getting excited - this is about Asthma which is why the word controlled is important. It has no value for emphysema or bronchiectasis and thus for chronic bronchitis either. IF it does a better hiob than Salbutamol or that via nebulizing then it could be of huge value to those with asthma as the man compnent of their COPD.
This drug is currently approved ( as you know ) for Asthma. Some patients and I am one of them have both conditions Asthma and COPD. This is known as Asthma COPD Overlap Syndrome or ACOS for short. I was diagnosed with it 20 years ago.
Given the two conditions exist together, it makes it less manageable with bacterial exacerbations which are often concurrent so the damage to the lungs is more extensive. It is know to be more of a challenge to manage and the mortality levels are higher. I have Type1 Respiratory failure for the past 8 years.
Of course when it is approved then it will be offered in a very targeted way to those who need it most- i.e those with Type 2 inflammation.
You might find this information from Sanofi helpful to read through.
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